Another insect of the same family as the cochineal, prepares a substance called gum lac, which is used as a dye, and also as a varnish. This is the lac insect, (_coccus lacca_,) found on several kinds of trees in the East Indies, especially in the uncultivated mountains on both sides the Ganges, where it is produced in such abundance, that were the consumption ten times greater than it is, the markets might be readily supplied. So great is the accumulation of these insects on the trees which they frequent, that the branches appear as if covered with red dust, and their sap is so much exhausted, that they wither and produce no fruit: the leaves also drop off, or turn to a blackish hue. The insects fix themselves so close together, that it is supposed that not more than one in six can have room to complete her cell. It is said they are transplanted from place to place by birds, which cannot perch upon the branches without carrying off a number to the next place they rest upon. The female, when about to lay her eggs, becomes completely glued to the branch by a semi-pellucid liquid, which accumulates round the body, and hardens by exposure to the air. This is the gum lac, the original use of which is to form a cell for the young. When the eggs are laid, the parent insect becomes a mere lifeless bag of an oval shape, containing a small quantity of beautiful red liquid. On this liquid the young insects feed as soon as they come to life; after which they pierce the cell, and come forth one by one. Some small branches of _mimosa cinerea_, gathered when the lac was in a very fresh looking state, became covered with myriads of exceedingly minute animals at the end of fourteen days. They issued from small holes over the surface of the cells, and when single ran about pretty briskly; but in general they were so numerous as to be crowded over one another. The cells themselves were very much like amber; the outer portion was strong and resisting, but the partitions of the interior were thinner, and formed irregular squares, pentagons, and hexagons, having no communication with each other. There are four sorts of lac known in commerce, but these are only so many different preparations of the same substance. Stick lac is the lac in its natural state, with much of the woody parts of the branches adhering to it: this is collected in the East twice a year, the only trouble being to break off the twigs and branches, and take them to the nearest market, with the lac upon them; or, if destined for exportation, the lac is separated from the larger branches for convenience of freight.