ON THE TALLOW TREE, ETC. 37 



insect ; hence the inference, either that there are two distinct species 

 which produce white wax, or that the insect Staunton saw was falsely- 

 represented as the elaborator of this beautiful material. 



A few particulars regarding the Himalaya wax insect [Flata Umbata,) 

 by Captain Hutton, are published in the ' Journal of the Asiatic Society 

 of Bengal,' vol. xii. p. 898. After alluding to Sir George Staunton's and the 

 Abb6 Grosier's account of the wax-yielding insect of China and to 

 various authorities, Captain Hutton observes : " From all these state- 

 ments, therefore, we arrive at the positive conclusion, that as this 

 deposit, (that of F. Umbata,) will neither melt on the fire, per se, nor 

 combine with oil, it cannot be the substance from which the famous 

 white wax in China is found ; and we are led to perceive from the dif- 

 ference in the habits of the larva of Flata Umbata, and that of the insect 

 mentioned by the Abbe Grosier, that the wax is rather the produce of 

 a species of Coccus than of the larva of F. Umbata, or even of the allied 

 F. nigricorjiis." 



COCCUS SINENSIS, WESTWOOD. 



ABC. Mature female insects adhering to pieces of stick partially encrusted 

 with the wax (natural size). 



D. Vertical section of a piece of the crude wax, showing the position of the 

 young insects (magnified). 



The subjoined account has been principally derived from the Puntsau 

 and the Kiangfangpu, two native herbals of high authority. The insect 

 feeds on an evergreen shrub or tree, (Liyustrum lucidum*) which is 

 found throughout Central China from the Pacific to Thibet, but the 

 insect chiefly abounds in the province of Szetchuen. It is met with also 

 in Yunan, Hunan, and Hupeh. A small quantity is produced in 

 Kiuhwa, Chekiang province, of a superior description. Much attention 

 is paid to the cultivation of this tree ; extensive districts of country are 

 covered with it : and it forms an important branch of agricultural 

 industry. In planting they are arranged with the mulberry, in rows 

 about 12 feet apart ; both seeds and cuttings are employed. If the 



* The Himalaya insect is not confined to a Ligustrujn. 



