PEDICULUS. LOUSE. . 
Generic Character. 
Pedes sex, ambiilatorii. 
Ocidi duo. 
Os aculeo cxserendo. 
Antennce longitudine tho- 
racis. 
Abdomen depressum, sublo- 
batum. 
Legs six, formed for walking. 
Month furnished with an 
exsertile piercer. 
Antennae the length of the 
thorax. 
Abdomen depressed, sublo- 
bated . 
We now arrive at a very numerous genus of 
insects, far more remarkable for variety than ele- 
gance of appearance. Of these strange and un- 
pleasing animals some infest the bodies of qua- 
drupeds, others of birds, and some even those of 
insects themselves. It must however be here ob- 
served, tliat many small insects, infesting other 
animals, have been often referred to the genus 
Pediculus, which in reality belong to those of 
Acarus, Monoculus, &c. &c. 
The Pedieiilus humanus or common Louse is so 
well known as to render any very particular de- 
scription unnecessary. As a species, it is distin- 
guished by its pale livid colour, and lobated, oval 
abdomen. It is produced from a small oval egg, 
popularly called by the name of a nit, which is 
