242 INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



more annoying insect than the common cock-roach, 

 adding an incessant noise to its ravages ; since, although, 

 for a short time, it may not be unpleasant to hear 



'^ The cricket chirrup in the hearth," 



so constant a din every evening must very much inter- 

 rupt comfort and conversation. These garrulous ani- 

 mals, which live in a kind of artificial torrid zone, are 

 very thirsty souls, and are frequently found drowned 

 in pans of water, milk, broth, and the like. Whatever 

 is moist, be they even stockings or linen hung out to dry, 

 is to them a bonne boucJie ; they will eat the scummings 

 of pots, yeast, crumbs of bread, and even salt, or any 

 thing- within their reach. Sometimes thev are so abun- 

 dant in houses as to become absolute pests, flying into 

 the candles and into people's faces. 



At Cuddapa, in the ceded districts to the northward 

 of Mysore, Captain Green was much annoyed by a 

 jumping insect, which from his description I should take 

 for the larva of a species of cricket (Acheta, F.). They 

 were of a dun colour, and from half to three fourths 

 of an inch in length. They abounded at night, and 

 were very injurious to papers and books, which they 

 both discoloured and devoured ; leather also was eaten 

 by them. Such was their boldness and avidity, that they 

 attacked the exposed parts of the body when you were 

 asleep, nibbling the ends of the fingers, particularly 

 the skin under the nails, which was only discoverable 

 by a slight soreness that succeeded. So great was their 

 agility that they could seldom be caught or crushed. 

 They were a mute insect, but probably the imtigo 

 would make noise enough. 



But the white ants, wherever they prevail, are a still 



