INSECT-WHITE-WAX OF CHINA. 



63 



PRODUCTION. Until almost the present time the species of 

 insect producing the Chinese wax has been a matter of great 

 uncertainty. The foregoing accounts appear clearly to prove 

 that it is not afforded either by the Coccus ceriferus, Fabr^ 

 of India, or by a Flata. 



It is to the persevering endeavours of William Lockhart, Esq. 

 of Shanghai, that we owe the discovery that the -Chinese insect- 

 wax is produced by a species of Coccus hitherto undescribed. 

 Within the last three months this gentleman has transmitted to 

 .England a specimen of the crude wax as scraped from the tree, 

 in which a number of the dried full-grown bodies of a female 

 Coccus are to be found, as well as pieces of stick encrusted 



1853. 



Coccus SINENSIS, Westwood. 



A B C. Mature female insects adhering to pieces of stick partially encrusted with the wax 

 (natural size). 



D. Vertical section of a piece of the crude wax, showing the position of the young insects 

 (magnified). 



with the wax, and with the insects still in situ. Mr J. 0. 

 Westwood, who has examined the specimen, has reported upon 

 it to the Entomological Society, Feb. 7, 1853, 1 proposing at the 

 same time the name of Coccus Sine-mis for the new insect. Coccus 

 The imperfect condition of the specimens and the want of the Smensis> 

 male insect preclude the possibility of a complete scientific de- 

 scription being drawn up ; the existing remains consist of a dry, 

 hollow, nearly spherical mass, frequently somewhat shrivelled, 

 externally shining, and of a deep reddish-brown colour. This 



1 Athenceum, Feb. 19, 1853, p. 229 ; also Zoologist for March 1853, 

 p. 3820. 



