i i6j ) 
\Antiqnera in Nensi Spain, the Place where there 
is the greateft Traffick for it, the Atteftations upon 
Oath of eight Perfons who have been immediately 
^nployed in propagating and managing it for many 
Years ^ from whence the whole Natural Hiftory of 
this Drug is colle(^ed. Thefe (hew, Firfi-t in Re* 
gard to Cochineal it felf, 
That they are fmall living Animals with a Beak, 
Eyes, Feet and Claws ^ that they creep, climb, feek 
uieir Food, and bring forth Young, not changing their 
Species as Silk-Worms,but producing their Like ; which 
are not larger than Nits, or fmall Mites, or the Point 
of a Needle * but when come to Maturity, refemble 
in Size and Figure a Dog^s Ticke. Thus far is cer- 
tain, but their Manner of Generating is doubtful, 
though it is commonly believed by thofe who culti- 
vate them, that they are impregnated by a fmall But- 
terfly, which is bred upon the. (the Plant 
they live upon) which pafles and repafles over them. 
Secondly^ As to the Manner of raiflng, nourifliing, 
^d managing them,’ it appears, that at the proper 
Time, after Winter ( when thefe little Animals 
can bear the open Air) when the Cochineals which 
they have kept in their Houfes are grown fo large and 
big as foon to produce young ones, they put ix or 14 
together into a Pajile^ or little Neft made of fine 
foft Hay or Straw, or Mols of Trees, or the Down 
which immediately invellopes the Cocoa Nut. Thefe 
Pajles are then placed upon the Plants of the Nopal, 
or Prickly Indian Fig ( which they take Care to 
cultivate well for this Purpofe) and in x, 3, or 4 Days, 
thefe Animals bring forth a great Number of young 
ones ; foon after which the Mothers die. In the mean 
O o ‘ while 
