THE BED-BUG INFESTING A LIBRARY. I7 



rosive sublimate, and are free from them. Can it be that they Hve on 

 the paste on the wall paper ? As for remedies, or rather exterminators, 

 I have used two — the sublimate and red pepper. The latter, I have 

 sifted through my papers and books, and wherever I could get it; but 

 instead of driving them off, they seem to fatten on it; it is a sort of 

 condiment that helps them to relish their dinner the better. If you can 

 tell me what to do, and answer the first question also, you will do me a 

 great favor. I would move to another house, but there is not a vacant 

 one in the place. 



The bed-bug is generally believed to be a native of America, and its 

 prevalence in Europe to have resulted from its introduction into that 

 country in the wood imported from America for the rebuilding of 

 London after the great fire of 1666. This, however, must be an error, 

 for although it was not common in England, " it was well known in 

 some parts of Europe before that time, and is mentioned by Disscori- 

 des." An old writer records it in Europe as early as the year 1503, and 

 there is reason to believe that it was known to Pliny and Aristotle. It 

 was first described and named by Linnsus as C/mex lectularius — its 

 specific name denoting its pertaining to the bed. At present, it is 

 known as Acanthia lectula7-ia. 



I am unable to find a full statement of its natural history. It has 

 been treated of at considerable length by some of the old European 

 writers to whose papers I have not access. Unfortunately our modern 

 authors, in their references to the unsavory subject, dismiss it with a 

 few cursory remarks and the statement " that its habits are too well 

 known to call for further notice." There are, therefore, several points 

 in its domestic economy of which we are still in ignorance. 



The eggs are deposited, it is said, in March and April. They are of 

 an oval form, white, and open by a little lid to give forth the occupant. 

 A period of eleven v/eeks, under ordinary circumstances, carries them 

 to their maturity. Where they can obtain the amount of food needed 

 for their development, in an unoccupied apartment, is a question that 

 cannot be satisfactorily answered. It is possible that in rooms where 

 the walls are damp, the moistened paste of the wall-paper might serve 

 them for nutriment, for it must be remembered that their food is taken 

 by suction through a tube, and not by means of biting jaws. As quite 

 a number of the Hemiptera are known, when pressed by hunger, to 

 prey upon one another, it is not improbable that the young of this spe- 

 cies may find it convenient to expedite the death of their aged and in- 

 firm parents. And possibly, they may feed upon the juices of flies and 

 other insects, for they are known not to confine themselves entirely to 

 the human species, but to infest, occasionally, chicken-coops, and also, 

 it is stated, dove-cotes. When they have reached maturity, they are 

 3 



