44 HEMIPTERA. 



Croton Sebiferum— Poplar-leaved Croton, or Tallow-tree.— The Tallow- tree is not the 

 natural food of the Wax insect, but as they mutually illustrate the same inquiry, they are 

 represented in the same plate ; and it is further presumed, that a short account of this 

 useful plant will be deemed a proper sequel to the history of the insect. 



Du Halde, when describing the Tallow-tree, says, " II est de la hauteur dune grande 

 cerisier. Le fruit est renfermee dans un ecorce qu'on appelle Yen Kiou, et qui s ouvre 

 par le milieu quand il est mur, comme celle de la chataigne. II consiste en des grains 

 blancs de la grosseur d'un noisette, dont la chair a les qualitez du suif ; aussi en tait-on 

 des chandelles, apres Tavoir fait fondre, en y melant souvent un peu d'huile ordinaire, et 

 trempant les chandelles dans la cire qui vient sur l'arbre dont je vais parler : il sen 

 forme autour du suif une espece de croute qui l'empeche de couler. Page 18. vol. I. 



Sir G. Staunton speaks nearly to the same effect : " From the fruit of the Croton 

 ■sebiferum, of Linnaeus, the Chinese obtain a kind of vegetable fat, with which they make 

 a great proportion of their candles. This fruit, in its external appearance, bears some 

 resemblance to the berries of the ivy. As soon as it is ripe, the capsule opens and 

 divides into two, or, more frequently, three divisions, and falling off discovers as many 

 kernels, each attached by a separate foot-stalk, and covered with a fleshy substance of a 

 snowy whiteness, contrasting beautifully with the leaves of the tree, which, at this 

 season, are of a tint between a purple and a scarlet. The fat, or fleshy substance, is 

 separated from the kernels by crushing and boiling them in water. The candles made of 

 this fat are firmer than those of tallow, as well as free from all offensive odour. Thev 

 are not, however, equal to those of wax or spermaceti." This author further adds. 

 " The wax for candles is generally the produce of insects, feeding chiefly on the privet, 

 as is mentioned in the chapter of Cochin China. It is naturally white, and so pure as to 

 produce no smoke ; but is collected in such small quantities, as to be scarce and dear. 

 Cheap candles are also made of tallow, and even of grease of too little consistence to 

 be used, without the contrivance of being coated with the firmer substance of the tallow- 

 tree or of wax." Vide Chapter on Sou-choo-foo. 



The tallow-tree is now cultivated in the West Indies, where it thrives well, and 

 produces fruit, and by proper attention may hereafter become useful. 



