DIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED FROM INSECTS. 321 



is least in use, preserves the whitish powder on the body 

 of the cochineal, which being thus less subject to the 

 adulterations so often practised by the Indians, bears a 

 higher price both in America and Europe a . 



The quantity at present annually exported from South 

 America is said by Humboldt to be 32,000 arrobas, 

 there worth 500,04-0/. sterling 5 — a vast amount to arise 

 from so small an insect, and well calculated to show us 

 the absurdity of despising any animals on account of 

 their minuteness. So important is the acquisition of 

 this insect (of which the Spanish government is ex- 

 tremely jealous) regarded, that the Court of Directors of 

 the East India Company have offered a reward of 6000/. 

 to any one who shall introduce it into India, where hi- 

 therto the Company have only succeeded in procuring 

 from Brazil the wild kind producing the sylvestre cochi- 

 neal, which is of very inferior value. 



Lac is the produce of an insect formerly supposed to , 

 be a kind of ant or bee c , but now ascertained to be a 

 species of Coccus, whose history will be adverted to 

 when I come to speak of the secretions of insects ; and 

 it is collected from various trees in India, where it is 

 found so abundantly, that, were the consumption ten 

 times greater than it is, it could be readily supplied. 

 This substance is made use of in that country in the ma- 

 nufacture of beads, rings, and other female ornaments. 

 Mixed with sand it forms grind-stones ; and added to 

 lamp- or ivory-black, being first dissolved in water with 



a Humboldt's Political Essay on New Spain, iii. 72-9. 



b Ibid. iii. 64.— Dr. Bancroft estimates the present annual con- 

 sumption of cochineal in Great Britain at about 7. r >0bags, or 1 50,0001bs. 

 —worth at the present price 375,000/. c Lesser, L, ii. 1 G5. 



VOL. I. Y 



