134 INSECT MANUFACTURES. 



The insects fix themselves so close together, that 

 it is supposed that not more than one in six can 

 have room to complete her cell. It is said they are 

 transplanted from place to place by birds, which 

 cannot perch upon the branches without carrying 

 off a number to the next place they rest upon. 



The female, when about to lay her eggs, becomes 

 completely glued to the branch by a semi-pellucid 

 liquid, which accumulates round the body, and 

 hardens by exposure to the air. This is the gum 

 lac, the original use of which is to form a cell for 

 the young. When the eggs are laid, the parent 

 insect becomes a mere lifeless bag of an oval shape, 

 containing a small quantity of beautiful red liquid. 

 On this liquid the young insects feed as soon as 

 they come to life; after which they pierce the 

 cell, and come forth one by one. Some small 

 branches of mimosa cinerea, gathered when the lac 

 was in a very fresh looking state, became covered 

 with myriads of exceedingly minute animals at 

 the end of fourteen days. They issued from small 

 holes over the surface of the cells, and when single 

 ran about pretty briskly ; but in general they were 



