the Chermes Lacca. 233 
The infeCt in its perfect ftate is rather fmaller than the male, 
of a brighter red colour, and lefs active. 
Head , fmall in proportion to the body, pointed. 
•Eyes, very minute. 
Antenna, filiform, not articulated as in the male, fp read- 
ing, fomewhat flaorter than the infeCt. 
Mouth : I could not difcover it diftinCtly, 
‘Trunk, red, almoft orbicular. 
Abdomen, red, oblong, compofed of twelve annular fegments. 
Extremities. 
Legs, fix, for running or jumping. 
Wings, two, incumbent, longer than the abdomen, tranf- 
parent. 
Wail, two white hairs as long as the infeCt. 
With regard to the ceconomy of thefe little animals, I mull, 
for the prefent, be filent ; having little more than conjecture 
to offer on that head. 
The eggs, and dark-coloured glutinous liquor they are found 
in, communicate to water a moll beautiful red colour, while 
frefh. After they have been dried, the colour 'they give to 
water is lefs bright ; it would therefore be well worth while 
for thofe, who are fituated near places where the lac is plenti- 
fully found, to try to extraCt and preferve the colouring prin- 
ciples by fuch means as would prevent them from being injured 
by keeping. I doubt not but in time a method may be difco- 
vered to render this colouring matter as valuable as cochineal. 
Mr. Hellot’s procefs for extracting the colouring matter 
from dry lac deferves to be tried with the frefh lac in the 
month of October, or beginning of November, before the 
infeCts have acquired life ; for I found the deepeft and belt 
colour was procured from the eggs while mixed with their nidus. 
Vol. LXXXI. li His/ 
