Mr. kerr’s Hiftory of the 
The infedts are the inhabitants of four trees. 
1. Ficus Religiofa, linnjei. In Hindoftan, 
Pipul. Banyan Tree. 
2. Ficus Indica, linnjei. In Hindoftan, Bhur. 
Banyan Tree. 
3. Plafo Hortus Malabarici. By the natives 7 ', 
Prafo. 
4. Rhamnus Jujuha, linn^ei. In Hindoftanick,. 
Beyr. 
The infers generally fix themfeives fo clofe 
together, and in fuch numbers* that I imagine 
only one in fix can have room to compleat her 
cell : the others die, and are eat up by various 
infedts. The extreme branches appear as If 
they were covered with a red duft, and their fap 
is fo much exhaufted, that they wither and pro- 
duce no fruit, the leaves drop off, or turn to a 
dirty black colour. Thefe infers are tranfplanted 
by birds : if they perch upon thefe branches, 
they muft carry off a number of the infe&s upon 
their feet to the next tree they reft upon. It is 
worth obferving, that thefe fig trees when 
wounded drop a milky juice, which inftantly 
coagulates into a vifcid ropey fubftance, which, 
hardened in the open air, is fimilar to the cell of 
the Coccus Lacca. The natives boil this milk 
with oils into a bird-lime, which will catch pea- 
cocks or the largeft birds. 
A red medicinal gum is procured by incifion 
from the Plafo Tree, fo fimilar to the Gum 
Lacca that it may readily be taken for the fame 
fubftance. 
