DIRECT IXJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 107 



difficult to extract tliera, the animal rather suffering it- 

 self to be pulled to pieces than let go its hold ; so that 

 the rostrum and head being often left in the wound, 

 produce an inflammation and suppuration which render 

 it deep and dangerous. These ticks are at lirst very 

 small, sometimes scarcely visible, but by suction will 

 swell themselves out till they are as big as the end of 

 one's finger, when they often fall to the ground of 

 themselves^. The serrated haustellum of the ticks, 

 which, like the barbed sting of a bee, cannot be ex- 

 tracted unless the animal cooperates, is well worth 

 your inspection ; and the species which infests our dogs 

 is so common that you will have no difficulty in pro- 

 curing one for examination. 



I have now introduced you to the principal insects of 

 the Aptera order of Linne, which, in spite of all his 

 care and all his power, assail the lord of the creation, 

 and make him their food. You will here, however, 

 perhaps accuse me of omitting one very prominent an- 

 noyer of our comfort and repose, w hich you think be- 

 longs to this tribe — the bed-bug ( Cimex lectularius, L.). 

 When you are a more practised entomologist^ you will 

 see clearly that this, though it has no wings, appertains 

 to another order : nevertheless it may be introduced here 

 without impropriety. Though now too common and 

 well known, in this country it was formerly a rare in- 

 sect. Had it not, two noble ladies, mentioned by Mouf- 

 fet, would scarcely have been thijown into such an alarm 

 by the appearance of bug-bites upon them ; which, until 

 their fears were dispelled by their physician, who hap- 

 pened also to be a naturalist, they considered as nothing 



* DeGeer, Yii. 154-60. 



