115 



Genus XLI. COCCUS, 



GENERIC CHARACTER, 



Antenna filiform. Rostrum rising from the 

 breast. Wings two, erect, none in the fe- 

 males. Abdomen bristly behind, 



General Observations, 



The Cocci are found on the leaves and bark 

 of various vegetables. They are natives of dif- 

 ferent parts of the world, and many of the spe- 

 cies are found in England. There is one exotic 

 species, universally known as producing that 

 beautiful colour called cochineal. This pro- 

 ceeds from the Coccus Cacti, so named from 

 its feeding on that succulent plant, the Cactus 

 Opuntia. It forms an article of commerce of 

 no mean consideration between this country 

 and South America ; where, especially in the 

 country of Mexico, the collecting of the drug 

 gives employment to a considerable number of 

 people. It is the female insect, when distend- 

 ed with eggs, so as rather to resemble a seed 

 than an animal, that produces the colour; and 



