31© THE LAC COCHINEAL. 



almost immoveably to the roots, and sometimes to 

 the branches of plants. Some of them, having thus 

 fixed themselves, lose entirely the form and appear- 

 ance of insects: their bodies swell, their skin stretches 

 and becomes smooth, and they so much resemble 

 some of the galls or excrecences, found on plants, 

 as by inexperienced persons to be mistaken for such- 

 After this change the abdomen serves only as a kind 

 of shell or covering under which the eggs are con- 

 cealed. Others, though they are likewise thus fixed, 

 preserve the form of insects till they have laid their 

 eggs and perish. 



A kind of down or cotton grows out of their belly, 

 which serves to make the nest in which they deposit 

 their eggs. — Most of the species found in our hot- 

 houses have been brought over with exotic plants 

 from other climates. 



The beak is seated on the breast ; and the antennae 

 are thread-shaped, or of equal thickness throughout. 

 The abdomen is terminated by four or six light- 

 coloured bristles. The male has two erect wings, 

 but the females have none. 



THE LAC COCHINEAL *. 



The head and trunk of this insect seem to form 

 one uniform, oval, compressed red body, somewhat 

 of the shape and size of a very small louse, con- 

 sisting of twelve transverse rings. The back is 



+ Synonyms.— —Coccus ficus. Linn. Gum lac, in the East 



Indie 3. 



