COCHINEAL. 
339 
fully known, and we find the male insect described 
a*s a small fly about the size of a flea, with jointed 
antennae and large wings in proportion to the body, 
which is of a red colour, and terminated by two long 
filaments : this is the appearance of the male : — the 
female differs essentially, being destitute of wings, 
and of an oval shape, with a body at least six times 
the size of the male. The process which they un- 
dergo before we receive them, so completely spoils 
their shape, that we lose all traces of their legs and 
antennae : they appear like irregular grains convex 
on one side and concave on the other, both sides 
being 1 marked with transverse streaks or wrinkles. 
They are of a scarlet colour within, and of a blackish 
red without ; sometimes of a white, reddish, or ash 
colour. 
The cochineal is a native of South America, and 
the best is said to come from Mexico, where the 
insects are chiefly cultivated, and are fed on two 
plants of the same genus, viz. the cactus cocheniU 
lifer , and cactus opuntia , or prickly pear. The 
female is the officinal cochineal insect ; and as they 
afford a considerable branch of traffic, great care is 
taken to bring them to perfection. The Mexicans 
carefully attend to the plants which afford them 
nourishment, and at a proper season fix to the 
prickles of the cactus small parcels of the finest 
moss, each of which is sufficient to make a nest that 
will contain ten or twelve full-grown female insects. 
In a few days a numerous progeny is born, which 
soon leave the moss, and spread themselves over 
