204 BERMUDA. 



are to be observed. They nevertheless belong to 

 this class of animals, and to the genus Coccus. 



The Cocci appear to injure the trees in causing by 

 then* punctures a too abundant overflowing of the 

 sap. Hence they require the attention of those 

 persons who cultivate peaches, oranges, figs, and 

 olives. Some species attack the roots of plants, 

 some are precious on account of the splendid scarlet 

 colour they furnish for the dyer. Further researches 

 on these insects might detect others equally useful in 

 this respect. 



The female of Coccus cacti (the cochineal insect of 

 commerce) is of a dark brown colour, covered with 

 a white down, flat beneath, convex above, margined, 

 with the segments rather distinct, but becoming 

 obliterated at the period of oviposition. The male is 

 of a dark red, with white wings. It is cultivated in 

 Mexico upon a species of cactus or opuntia, ^nd is 

 distinguished by the name of Mestique, or fine cochi- 

 neal, from another closely allied species, smaller and 

 more cottony, called the wild cochineal. It is cele- 

 brated for the crimson dye that it produces; it also 

 furnishes carmine. This production is one of the 

 chief riches of Mexico. 



Coccus Polonicu^s (or the scarlet grain of Poland) 

 was also employed iu that country as a considerable 



