130 



This information is embodied in a now obscure publication that has 

 apparently been overlooked since Perottet's time. When the Commission was 

 in parts whence it might have visited Senegal it was not at its disposal, and the 

 exigencies of travelling did not admit of explorations in the disturbed republic 

 of Hayti later on. 



B. Wild Cochineal, Insects {Grana sylvestre). 



The following facts will serve to indicate the many years that the prickly- 

 pear-loving insects designated " Wild Cochineal " or Orana sylvestre, the Coccus 

 of Ratzeburg, have been known and their habits observed : — 



1. West Indian Wild Cochineal (Dactylopius tomentos^is Newsteadi, 

 Ckll). — ^Writing with regard to Jamiaca in 1707-172.5, Sir Hans Sloane men- 

 tioned, in describing the Opuntia that we now know as Nopalea cochinelifera 

 (Linn.), its harbouring a cochineal insect, whence the technical name assigned to 

 it by Linne in ],736, by which it is distinguished. Sloane does not state that it 

 occurred there on any other species. It has persisted in Jamaica, as the Com- 

 mission found, and as is mentioned already by it, is still confined there to its 

 original host-plant. The latter remark applies, too, to its occurrence in Antigua, 

 where we found it on the Nopalea referred to but never on any plants of two 

 different kinds of prickly-pear growing close at hand. From Jamaica the 

 insect had often been sent to Europe prior to 1818, and its habits observed there 

 (Humboldt, A.— 1818, p. 424). 



2. Mexican Wild Cochineal Insect, Melichior de Ruusscher (1729, ])assim), 

 writing in 1729 and quoting many authentic Mexican documents dating 1725, 

 describes the Grana sylvestre as occuring in several parts adjacent to Oaxaca on 

 Wild Opuntias, but also attacking those on which the Precious Cochineal Insect 

 (Grana fina) fed, the Opuntia cochinelifer of IVIiller (probably 0. decumana. 

 Haw.). And, moreover, we find de Menonville stating that in 1777 it was 

 prevalent at Guaxaca, and that he transferred it therefrom to Port au Prince 

 (Hayti). Moreover, G. A. Prinsep took it to England from Vera Cruz, Mexico, 

 established it too at Chelsea, and thence " brought a supply to Bombay in 1821. 

 A second followed next year, both of which arrived in a living state." It occurs 

 in these parts of Mexico mentioned to this day, and both de Ruusscher's corres- 

 pondents, and the French naturalist, de Menonville, early made it an object of 

 special study. 



San Domingo Wild Cochineal. — When de Menonville returned to Port au 

 Prince (Hayti) in 1777, he found a Grana sylvestre there, which apparently was 

 one th.at there are grounds for concluding attacked the Opuntia inermis (the 

 Queensland pest pear), as well as to a less degree Opuntia Dillenii. This appar- 

 ently was the insect afterwards conveyed to Senegal (vid. supra). 



Brazilian Wild Cochineal. — G. A. Prinsep, writing in 1839, stated that a 

 wild cochineal insect probably existed in more than ordinary perfection in Brazil, 

 and that he made trial about the year 1787 of some sent thence by way of 

 Lisbon to England (Prinsep, 1839, p. 26). Also that Captain Neilson conveyed 

 Wild Cochineal therefrom to India in 1795 (Tryon, 1910). 



Western S. American Wild Cochineal. — Alexander A. Humboldt, writing 

 descriptive of his travels in 1799, stated that in addition to his observations 

 at Oaxaca (Mexico) he had occasion to observe the Cochenilla sih^estre in the 

 kingdoms of New Granada, Quito, and Peru (Humboldt, A., 1818, p. 424). 



