The Assassin Bug 301 



the mouth and causing their hps to swell up. How 

 much of it was true we do not know, and for the 

 sake of the people said to be kissed by this bug 

 we hope that none of the reports were true, because 

 the bugs accused of promiscuous osculation are the 

 very useful bed-bug hunters; but however useful 

 they are, they are the last of the bug tribe which 

 one would want on one's lips. 



JNIy first experience with an assassin bug was 

 one summer day on Long Island, when I was 

 idling away a summer's day, leaning on the paling 



set 



The Assassin Bug. 



The Toad Bug. 



fence and talking to my pet red-tailed hawk. While 

 so engaged I noticed the keen-eyed hawk was 

 watching something on the top rail of the fence. 

 Following the direction of its gaze I saw an ugly 

 small-headed creature of the bug family strolling 

 leisurely along the top rail. It did not hurry, but 

 walked as if it had no train to catch. It strolled, 



