136 THE INSECT WORLD. 
away from the Spaniards, and of bestowing it upon the French 
colonies. He landed in Mexico, and concealed so well the object 
of his voyage, that he managed to embark and carry to St. Domingo 
several cases containing plants covered with living cochineals. 
Unfortunately, a revolution which had broken out at St. Domingo 




















Fig. 93.—Branch of the Cactus, with Cochineal insects on. 
prevented him from succeeding in his praiseworthy endeavours. 
The cochineals died, and the Spaniards preserved their monopoly 
in the rearing of this insect. 
In 1806 M. Souceylier, a surgeon in the French navy, suc- 
