170 



SOME SOUTH IM)IAN INSECTS. ETC. [CHAP. XIX. 



attracts flies in the dry weather, and is a simple moans of poisoning 

 lb, in without danger to domestic animals. A small piece of wire 

 gauze or leather fastened to a handle makes a very effective imple- 

 ment to "swat that fly," as the Americans say, and a clwkra armed 

 with a weapon of this kind should have little difficulty in dealing 

 with any flies that find their way on to the premises. 



Cockroaches are insects which are not only disgusting in 

 appearance and by reason of their powerful odour but they arc also 

 animals which are liable to contaminate food where this is accessi- 

 ble to them. The large brown cockroaches (Periplaneta australasicu 

 and /'. americana) are common throughout Southern India and often 

 \\\ about in bungalows just before rain, though at other times they 

 keep out of sight. Several smaller species are also of common 



I'll,. 71. -Periplaneta americana, the common Hou i i ckroach ol India. 

 (< original.) 



oci urrence and all have much the same habits. Besides attacking 

 food, which the) contaminate with then- peculiarly nauseous smell 

 they do considerable damage by gnawing the binding of books, 

 corks, etc., and sometimes damage clothes by depositing their egg- 

 capsules amongst such, the fluid extruded with the eggs having an 

 acrid effect which rots the cloth with which it comes into contact. 

 The larger cockroaches may also be very unpleasant housemates 

 by gnawing the hair and toes and sipping liquid refreshment from 

 the lips of sleepers unprotected by a net. Borax mixed with thin 

 syrup, or made into a paste with chocolate, is a good remedy 

 against cockroaches. 



