136 THE INSECT WORLD. 
from the Spaniards, and of bestowing it upon the French colonies. 
He landed in Mexico, and concealed so well the object of his 
voyage, that he managed to embark and carry to St. Domingo 
several cases containing plants covered with living cochineals. 
Unfortunately, a revolution which had broken out at St. Domingo 









Fig. 95.—Branch of the Cactus, with Cochineal insects on 
prevented any profit arising from his praiseworthy endeavours. 
The cochineals died, and the Spaniards preserved their monopoly 
in the rearing of this insect. 
In 1806 M. Souceylier, a surgeon in the French navy, suc- 

