2U 
ANIMALS. 
times their usual size, the skin leprous, the feet awfully dis- 
torted and looking like a sponge. There is little danger from 
the attacks of these insects if the feet are always covered. 
The Moyaquil, commonly found on the leaves of a species 
of wild plantain growing in the country, is a worm which 
often proves a source of great annoyance to both men and 
animals. So minute are its dimensions, and such is the deli- 
cate nature of its operations, that it penetrates the flesh un- 
perceived. There it gradually increases in size and vigor until 
it forms a protuberance which, if left to itself, becomes a painful 
ulcer : the worm in' the mean time bedding itself more deeply 
until it penetrates the bone, from which it is exceedingly dif- 
ficult of extraction without the aid of surgical instruments. 
They are, however, readily removed at an early stage by an ex- 
ternal application of a little resin, derived from certain trees 
common in the forests. The oil of tobacco is also used as a 
remedy, and fire is sometimes employed to kill them. Fortu- 
nately the Moyaquil is confined to a few localities of small extent. 
The Broca is a small insect which often does great mischief by 
boring into barrels and other wooden vessels containing sweets, 
thus allowing their contents to escape. The usual remedy 
against their incursions is to envelop the barrels with a tarred 
coat of paper. 
The numerous well-beaten paths that traverse the country, 
bear testimony to the presence of ants, some of the larger species 
of which carry a kernel of corn with ease. A small variety of 
white ants deserve particular mention, as being the principal 
agents in the destruction of timber. Their nests are usually 
built of clay and leaves, adhering to the trunks and branches of 
trees. They always work under cover, and destroy the inner 
portions of the wood, leaving only a thin shell. In this manner 
their movements are unperceived, and it is difficult to detect the 
locality and extent of their depredations. They always travel 
under covered passages formed of clay, by which they are en- 
tirely shielded from observation. Several of the more valuable 
species of timber are exempt from the attacks of these insects 
(see Vegetable Productions, p. 194). 
The Cochineal insect {Coccus cacti\ so celebrated for the valu- 
