6/0 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO IjG^. 



few grains of the common cochineal of the shops in warm water for 24 hours, 

 they will observe them to swell up to their original shape ; so that the legs, an- 

 tennae, and proboscis may be discovered. What is remarkable in the proboscis 

 is, that we shall find in many of them the ends of two fine hairs or filaments re- 

 maining, with which it forms its web, not unlike the silk worm; which always 

 spins its cocoons with 2 threads, which as they come out, unite together with the 

 natural gluten of the animal. And if this animal, thus expanded by moisture, 

 be opened in a watch glass with a fine lancet in a little water, a great number of 

 eggs, with the young animals in them, may be discovered, which will exhibit a 

 very agreeable scene of a most vivid crimson hue. 



As soon as the female insect is delivered of its numerous progeny, it becomes 

 a mere husk and dies; so that great care is taken in Mexico, where it is principally 

 collected, to kill the old ones while big with young, to prevent the young ones 

 escaping into life, and depriving them of that beautiful scarlet die so much es- 

 teemed by all the world. 



In plate l6are exhibited several views of both the male and female insect in 

 various states and positions, and also both in their natural size, and as magnified 

 by the microscope ; the former marked with the small letters of the alphabet, 

 and the latter with the corresponding capitals. Thus, 



A, denotes the female cochineal insect on its back magnified, b, the same on 

 its belly magnified, c, the male cochineal insect as it walks, magnified, d, the 

 male cochineal insect with its wings extended, magnified, e, the male cochineal 

 insect in a side view flying, magnified, f, the male insect as it is found without 

 wings, magnified, g, the silk-bag which the male insect spins before its wings 

 are expanded, h, the silk-bag cut open which discovers the head of the male 

 insect magnified, i, the appearance of the female when it first begins to spin, 

 magnified, k, l, m, the front, back, and side views of the female cochineal insect, 

 when it comes to perfection, and big with young, magnified. 



a and b, the natural size of the female cochineal insect when it creeps about. 

 c, d, e, the natural size of the male cochineal fly in three different views, f, the 

 male insect as it is found without wings, g, the silk-bag of the male fly. h, the 

 top of the silk-bag cut open to show the head of the male fly. i, the female 

 before it spins, k, l,m, the natural size of the female cochineal when it becomes 

 fit for use, in three views. 



END OP the PIPTY-SECOND VOLUME OP THE ORIGINAL. 



