ii8 The Book of Bugs. 



the cracks where they hide. It is a mistake to suppose 

 that the Persian powder will kill. It is suffocating, for 

 it gets into the little holes in their sides through which 

 they breathe. They stay in hiding after the powder is 

 blown in on them as long as they can and then they rush 

 forth nervously, apparently crying, ' Mercy land! I 

 can't stand this! ' Well-directed blows with a felt slip- 

 per at such times do great execution. I often wonder 

 that housewives do not appeal to the Anglo-Saxon pas- 

 sion for the chase in husbands and sons. There is much 

 sport in a cockroach battue. Under the water pipes by 

 the range, and in the crevices of the stationary tubs, are 

 famous hunting grounds. If you have a taste for scien- 

 tific experiments, you may seal up the door and windows 

 with strips of paper smeared with molasses, and then 

 sprinkle bisulphide of carbon about. It is a volatile 

 liquid, whose vapor is destructive to all small life. It 

 permeates the house with a vociferous fragrance, com- 

 pared with which frying sauerkraut is a mere whisper. 

 It is similar in character, though not so permanent, as 

 the perfume of the little animal with black-and-white 

 stripes around its tail, which is not a vanilla plant, 

 either. 



If all this does not deter you, I feel it my duty to give 

 the further warning that if the vapor of bisulphide of car- 

 bon comes in contact with flame it goes bang! regardless 

 of consequences. It is very impulsive, like gasoline. 



The fumes of burning sulphur are just as efficacious as 

 bisulphide of carbon, and not explosive at all, but they 

 blacken gilt things and impart a distinct flavor of blue- 

 tipped matches to all and sundry contents of the room. 

 Skippers of fishing smacks, not afraid of being thought 

 finicky and over-nice, use the sulphur process a few days 

 before beginning the season, and follow it up two weeks 



