Kermes is an insect found in many parts of Asia and the south of Europe On account of their figure they were a long time taken for the seeds of the tree on which they feed, whence they were called grains of kermes; they also bore the name of vermilion. It has been much used in dyeing worsted and woollen cloth of a scarlet colour, though the preference is given to the scarlet from cochineal, especially since the discovery of the mode of heightening its tint by the solution of tin.