112 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



The Bed-bug. (Cirnex Lectularras.) 



Bed-bugs are unfortunately everywhere well known. 

 They are found throughout the world, from the seven- 

 tieth degree north latitude, to the seventieth degree 

 of south latitude, in both hemispheres, and inhabit 

 principally the houses of populous cities. The walls 

 of hen-houses are also sometimes entirely covered by 

 them, and what is very singular, the fowls themselves 

 are never attacked by them, but as they people rapidly 

 in warm fowl-manure, it is conjectured that they feed 

 on them. Hen-houses near a dwelling-house, are on 

 this account dangerous. 



That Bed-bugs suck the blood of man, is very well 

 known, but it is not so certain that blood is their only 

 nourishment. I found them in abundance in the pine 

 woods of Finland, near Wiborg, in Europe, as well as 

 in the pine woods of North America, and in newly- 

 constructed frame houses. It is probable, therefore, 

 that they feed on the sap of pine wood. 



In Eugland, it is believed that this vermin is a 

 native of North America, and was accidentally brought 

 over to Europe in the pine timber. But this can 

 hardly be the case, as Aristotle, who lived three 

 hundred years before Christ, mentions this insect in 

 his " Historia Animalium," and so does Pliny, some 

 centuries later, in his Natural History. They are 



