110 ZOOLOGY OF INDIA. 



to it during the middle ages, when its insect origin came 

 to be generally understood ; and hence our word vermilion is 

 derived. The French term crammsi is evidently from the 

 Arabic. It is supposed to have been by means of this sub- 

 stance that the curtains of the tabernacle (Exodus xxvi. 

 &c.) were died of a deep rod (which the word scarlet then 

 implied, rather than the colour so named in more modern 

 days, which was unknown in the reign of James I., when 

 our Bible was translated), and from the same source have 

 been derived the imperishable reds of the Flemish tapestries. 

 The scarlet afforded by cochineal was unknown in its high- 

 est perfection till the year 1G30, when the singular power 

 of the oxide of tin in exalting its colours was discovered 

 in Holland ; it was soon after communicated to one of the 

 celebrated MM. Gobelins of Paris, and may have con- 

 tributed to the perfection of their tapestries.* Since the 

 manufacture or preparation of morocco-leather has been 

 established in this country, cochineal has been employed to 

 produce the beautiful colour of what is called red morocco ; 

 but in Persia, Armenia, Barbary, and the Greek islands a 

 similar colour was originally produced by the use of either 

 kermes or lac.t The colouring matter of kermes is con- 

 sidered by Dr. Bancroft as identical with that of cochineal, 

 but combined with some astringent matter derived from the 

 tree on which the insects feed. 



Lac is also the produce of" an insect of the coccus kind, 

 which is collected from various trees in India, where it is 

 used in the fabrication of beads, rings, and other ornaments 

 of female attire. When mixed with sand it forms grind- 

 stones ; and added to lamp or ivory black, and previously 

 dissolved in water with a little borax, it composes an ink, 

 which, when dry, is said to be capable of resisting a con- 

 siderable dejiree of damp or moisture. In this country, ac- 

 cording to the different conditions in which it is imported, 

 it is called stick-lac, seed-lac, lump-lac, or shell-lac. It is 

 chiefly used in the formation of varnishes, japanned ware, 

 and sealing-wax, although in later years it has been applied 

 to a still more important purpose, as originally suggested 



' Quarterly Review, vol. ix. p. 210. 



t Experimental Researciies concerning the Philosophy of Ferraafient 

 Colours, &c. By Edward Bancroft, M.D., vol. ii. p. 167. 



