The following figure of the soap insect (_Carabus saponarius_), is copied from M. Olivier’s large work on insects. [Illustration: [Soap Insect]] Another useful insect substance is a kind of resin, or more properly speaking, wax, which by adulteration with a resinous substance is made heavier for the market. This is found in the province of Coquimbo, South America, and is the production of a caterpillar, which feeds on a shrub called _chilca_, a species of origanum. The caterpillars are of a red colour, and about half an inch in length. They appear in great numbers in the beginning of the spring on the branches of the chilca, where they form their cells of a kind of soft wax. In these they become changed into a small yellowish moth, with black stripes upon the wings. The wax is at first very white, by degrees becomes yellow, and finally brown; this change, and the bitter taste which it acquires, is supposed to be owing to the fogs which are very frequent in the provinces where it is found. It is collected in autumn by the inhabitants, who boil it in water, and afterwards make it up into little cakes, in which form it is brought to market. In order to increase its weight, many are accustomed to mix it with the resin obtained from another resinous shrub, and in this state great quantities are sold to ship-masters, who use it for paying their vessels. Upon the branches of the wild rosemary is also found a whitish viscous substance, in globules of the size of a hazel-nut, containing a very limpid oil, which proceeds from the shrub. These glands serve for the habitation of a kind of caterpillar, which becomes transformed into a small fly, with four brown wings, of the genus _Cynips_. * * * * * The foregoing details will be sufficient to show that we are indebted in no small degree to the labours of insects for comfort, convenience, and health. It becomes us then to receive not unthankfully the benefits they confer, while we view them as the agents of a higher power, under whose direction they work with ceaseless activity in their humble sphere, and produce results, not less astonishing in themselves, than valuable and beneficial to mankind. [Illustration: FINIS] LONDON R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES Page Changed from Changed to 155:t155 punctured, with the antennæ tinctured, with the antennæ black, except black, except ● Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained. ● Used numbers for footnotes. ● Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.