A fourteenth letter to Sir Joseph Banks ... on the subject of cochineal insects, discovered at Madras / [James Anderson].

  • James Anderson
Date:
1788
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A fourteenth letter to Sir Joseph Banks ... on the subject of cochineal insects, discovered at Madras / [James Anderson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Doflor Rufleil thinks the Ammam Patcherichi Pooncloo’h the Euphorbia Hirta^ and not a Parietaria as I had I'uppoled from the habit of the plant, and finding it Tricoccous I have thought proper to admit this amendment in conlormity to the Sexual-Syftem. The Poorfa Tree having the exterior Calyx Triphyllous-y I conlidered a Malva, but Dr. RufTell whofe knowledge in Botany is more extenfive, fays it is the Hlbijcm Populneus^ or Bupariti of the Hart, Mai. and that latter Botanilts have called it Thefpefia Populnea^ for realoiiS he is not acquainted with. It may foi aught I fee be removed from both thefe Genera^ and the name Thefpefta continued*; becaufe a Milky juice which iffues from any wound ol the unripe Bruit, is lerviceable like fome other vegetable aftringent juices, to check that Species of Herpes called a Ring-worm. The Tamuls diftinguilB two kinds {viz) the Phu Poorfa^ or Flowering ; and Kay Poorfa^ or Frutefeent Poorfa-, which laft only, brings the Seeds to maturity and capable of vegetation; i lhali therefor^ In future be underftood by the name Thefpefia Populnea Didecia.. In the generation of vegetables there exilts conliderable variety, {e. g.) the Mufa or Plantain cultivated here by Suckers, will never produce Flowers or Fruit, if the Sucker is removed before the Parent ftock has Flowered. The Timber of the Poorja Tree is ftrong, tough, and of a fmooth even grain, like the wood of the Apple or Pear Tree, and not being very heavy is the mott proper Timber in this Country, lor Naves, and Fellies of Wheels, for Wheel Carriages. With regard to the Erythrina, as Linnaeus mentions a difference in the Colour of the prickles of the Oriental and Occidental, 1 have been guided by that diftinefion—it, is called the Motebey tor Painters Tree, a fpecies of Painters called Motchey?nen, finding it the moll proper in the conftruction of their works, in Toys, Scabbards of Swords, and I'runks, for which the lightnefs of the wood, almoll equal to that of Cork, renders it very fit—Tw'o or three of thele Trees tied together, forms the water conveyance called Catamaram. Its beautiful Red Flowers are ufed as Feftooiis and garlands at Weddings, from whence the Tamuls call it the wedding Mouricu. The Tree mentioned in Letter tenth vreiS PoUganiia Moniecia Terminali-a, by Dodtor Koning, from drawings of it which I laid before him; the /Ira NeUicay or Cherameia mult be the Averrboa Adda, although 1 can find only an odfofitl feffile lligma in the Umbilicus of the Drupa, hui oo Feloments ox Anthtra •. I mull likewife add, that having lately feen Itome rude Engravings of the Kirmes on the Ilex in a Hiftory of Drugs, tranflated from the h rench by Dr. Hil), they appear fo like the Chloeoon on the grafs, I have my doubts whither Linneeus may not have given the Character Saitatoria to the Kirmes, on account of the greater activity of the male Fly in this genus, than thofe of the genus Coccus, which farther obfervation confirms. A material difficulty in curing the Chloeoon is the trouble of Picxmg off the filk Cacoon, with which it is covered, and this 1 think may now be unneceliary, and mat ic will be fufficient to kill the Infehts by two or three days Immerfion in Vinegar, and afterwards dry them intneSun- fhine, without taking the trouble to remove their filky Envelope, as is praclifed with tne Kirmes ; to which the Chloeoon likewife bears an affinity in its nature as a Dye, feeing it penetrates into the fibre ot Wool. The great number of Parafitical Infedls as well as Parafitical Plants, leads me to fet afide the Caterpillars, mentioned in the foriner Letters ; nor will the circumftance of finding them within the Cacoons of the Chloeoon, preferve their connection with the fpecies, feeing I have iince found fimilar Caterpillars on the leaves of Plants, where there was no Ecrrr/r Infedts ; many Infects are found wdthin the pulp of different kinds of Fruit, in tne rind of which no perforation can be traced. A more intimate connefition may be perceived, where we are certain their is no affinity of fpecies, ( e, g.) Horfes liereare fubject to hiindnels, from a worm in tire Aquaous humuor of Lie Eye, which in
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