IQ'2, COCCUS. 



proceeding from the tip of the proboscis in the 

 full-grown insect. 



The Male is a small and rather slender dipterous 

 fly, about the size of a flea, with jointed antennae 

 and large white wings in proportion to the body, 

 which is of a red colour, with two long filaments 

 proceeding from the tail. It is an active and lively 

 animal, and is dispersed in small numbers among 

 the females, in the proportion, according to Mr. 

 Ellis, in the Philosophical Transactions, of about 

 one male to a hundred and fifty, or even two 

 hundred females. When the female insect has 

 discharged all its eggs, it becomes a mere husk, 

 and dies; so that great care is taken to kill the 

 insects before that time, to prevent the young 

 from escaping, and thus disappointing the pro- 

 prietor of the beautiful colour. The insects when 

 picked or brushed off the plants, are said to be 

 first killed either by the fumes of heated vinegar, 

 or by smoke, and then dried, in which state they 

 are imported into Europe; and it is said .that the 

 Spanish Government is annually more enriched 

 by the profit of the Cochineel trade than by the 

 produce of all its gold-mines. 



It may perhaps be almost unnecessary to add, 

 that, exclusive of the general or large scale in 

 which Cochineel is used by the dyers, the fine 

 colour so much esteemed in painting, and known 

 by the name of Carmine, is no other than a pre- 

 paration from the same substance, and is un- 

 questionably the most beautiful of all the pictorial 

 reds. It is also used, when properly mixed with 



