COCCUS, Coccinum, Coccineus color, Crimson, or according to others, Scarlet. Moses often makes use of coccum bis tinctum, of Scarlet twice dyed, because in reality Scarlet or Purple was twice dyed1.
Nec quæ bis Tyrio murice lana rubet.
In the Hebrew it is Tolahat Schani; that תולעת שני S. hani. Tolahat.is to say, the double Worm, or the Worm Schani, as if Schani were the proper name of this Worm. I shall set down here the account which Bellonius gives us of the Worm which is made use of in dying Crimson2. There is abundance of Coccus in the Isle of Crete, with which they drive a great Trade there. It is found in the month of June, upon a sort of small Oak, the Leaves whereof are prickly, and are covered with certain small Berries about the bigness of a little Pea, and full of little red Worms, no larger than Nits. These Berries are plucked from the Leaves, and the little Animals come out through a hole on that side, which was fastened to the Leaf. These little Animals are separated from the Berry by a Sieve, and are put together and pressed gently. They make balls of them about the size of a Pullet’s Egg. The Arabians call these Worms Charmes, whence the French word Cramoisy or Crimson is derived; because they are of use in dying this colour. See hereafter Ver, Vermiculus.
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