CHAP. CV. 



QUE'RCUS, 



1791 



cheap as the cochineal ; and, therefore, only very small quantities of it are 

 brought to market. This species is not unfrequent in British collections, 

 where, however, it is somewhat tender, and of very slow growth. It is 

 propagated from the acorns, which are received from the Continental nur- 

 serymen; and small plants, in pots, are from Is. 6d. to 3s. 6d. each. 

 The Kermes. The specific name of coccifera has been applied to this species 

 in consequence of its affording nourishment to a species of Coccus, or scale 

 insect (Coccus ilicis Lin. Syst. Nat., 2740., No. 6.) ; though the student of the 

 Systema Natures will at once perceive the impropriety of the Linnaean applica- 

 tion of these names, Coccus and Chermes, the latter being applied to another 

 totally distinct genus of minute homopterous insects allied to the plant lice, to 

 which, from their saltatorial powers, Geoffroy gave the name of Psylla, with 

 much greater propriety ; employing, however, both Coccus and Chermes as 

 generic names of insects belonging to the family Cdccidae. The insect in 

 question is also known under its 

 Arabian name, Chermes or Kermes ; 

 Scharlachbeeren, Ger. ; Grein Schar- 

 lakbessen, Dutch', Grana Chermes, 

 Cremese, or Cocchi, Ital.\ Grana - 

 Kermes, or Grana de la Coscoja, 

 Span.; and Alkermes, Persian; 

 and, previously to the discovery of 

 the New World, was employed to a 

 very great extent in dyeing, pro- 

 ducing a very permanent and rich 

 blood-red colour. It will be seen, 

 from the accompanying figure (fig. 

 1793.), that this parasitic insect has 

 all the appearance of a berry or 

 seed, affording not the slightest indi- 

 cation of its insect nature; being 

 immovably affixed in clusters to the 

 branches of the oak, upon which it 

 subsists, by introducing into the 

 substance of the stem a long and delicate haustellum. It is only, however, at 

 the close of its existence that it assumes the form of a seed. Mr. M'Culloch, 

 indeed, states that it is in the process of drying that this form is acquired ; but 

 this is not correct, since, although the insect is provided with legs, and, when 



6 H 4 



1793 



