ON THE TALLOW TREE, ETC. 39 



head, which is in spring, when the nests are transferred to other trees, 

 one or more to each, according to their size and vigor, in the manner 

 already described. 



On being scraped from the trees, the crude material is freed from its 

 impurities, probably the skeleton of the insect by spreading it on a 

 strainer, covering a cylindrical vessel, which is placed in a caldron of 

 boiling water. The wax is received into the former vessel, and on con- 

 gealing is ready for market. 



The pe-la or white wax, in its chemical properties is analogous to 

 purified beeswax, and also spermaceti, but differing from both ; being, 

 in my opinion, an article perfectly sui generis. It is perfectly white, 

 translucent, shining, not unctuous to the touch, inodorous, insipid, 

 crumbles into a dry inadhesive powder between the teeth, with a fibrous 

 texture resembling fibrous feldspar ; insoluble in water ; dissolves in 

 essential oil ; and is scarcely affected by boiling alcohol, the acids, or 

 alkalies. 



The aid of analytical chemistry is needed for the proper elucidation 

 of this most beautiful material. There can be no doubt that it would 

 prove altogether superior in the arts to purified beeswax. On extraor- 

 dinary occasions, the Chinese employ it for caudles and tapers. It has 

 been supposed to be identical with the white wax of Madras ; but as 

 the Indian article has been found useless in the manufacture of candles 

 (Dr. Pearson, Philosophical Transactions, vol 21), it cannot be the same. 

 It far excels also the vegetable wax of the United States, (Myrica 

 cerifera) 



Some interesting particulars on this subject are contained in a 

 memoir in the Philosophical Transactions for 1848, by Mr. B. C. Brodie, 

 entitled " On the Chemical Nature of a wax for China." Mr. Brodie 

 states that although in appearance the substance resembles stearine or 

 spermaceti more than beeswax, it comes nearest to purified cerin. The 

 Comptes Bendu for 1840, tome x. p. 618, contains a communication by 

 M. Stanislas Julien on the China wax, and the insect which yields it. 

 The wax insects are there stated to be raised upon four species of 

 plants, these are Niu-tching (Rhus succedanea) Tung-tsing (Ligustrum 

 gldbrum and lucidum) Chouikin, supposed to be Hibiscus syriacus, and 

 Tcha-la (botanical name unknown). Rhus succedanea, or a nearly 

 allied species occurs in the Himalayahs. 



Is this substance a secretion 1 There are Chinese who regard it as 

 such ; some representing it to be the saliva, and others the excrement of 

 the insect. European writers take nearly the same view ; but the best 

 authorities expressly say that this opinion is incorrect, and that the 

 animal is changed into wax. I am inclined to believe the insect under- 

 goes what may be styled a ceraceous degeneration ; its whole body being 

 permeated by the peculiar product in the same manner as the Coccus 

 cacti is by carmine. 



