116 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



wound they inflict with their horny snout, is fully as 

 inflamed and painful. 



There is no better remedy to prevent the injuries 

 done by these Insects, than to examine the squash and 

 pumpkin vines every day, and destroy them ; for, to 

 use the argument adduced in favour of capital punish- 

 ment, if they are killed, they are forever out of the 

 way. I would suggest, that for boys in the country 

 t]|is would afford a fit and amusing occupation, when 

 out of school; thereby keeping themselves and the 

 bugs from doing mischief. 



This species of Bugs, as well as all kindred ones, 

 inflict often painful wounds, which are sometimes more 

 venomous than the sting of a scorpion, which is often 

 experienced in tropical countries, and produce tumors 

 as big as the egg of a pigeon, for several days. But 

 it is much more singular, that there is found in the 

 West Indies, a bug known by the name of the Wheel- 

 Bug (Reduvius serratus), which, like the Electric Eel 

 and the Torpedo, communicates to the person whose 

 flesh it touches, an electric shock, which comes out 

 from its legs. 



Tree-hoppers. (Membracis.) 



Tab. IV. Fig. 21. 



The Tree-hoppers are mostly of a green colour, and 

 small size ; they have four wings, and a very large 



