118 SEEDS, STORES, AND WOOD. 



consists in causing the wall paper to scale off by its feeding on the 

 starch paste." * 



From their nocturnal, or at least darkness-loving habits, it is in 

 dark or dusky places that these creatures are especially to be found, 

 as under pots and the like places in larders, in dark wardrobes amongst 

 the clothes, or in crannies of woodwork, or, again, on library shelves ; 

 and in German observation it is noted that in August the "Fishes" 

 are to be found in their haunts of all sizes, pointing thus to summer 

 time being the season of their multiplication. 



The communications sent me, with specimens accompanying, from 

 time to time have not added anything to the already known points of 

 their history, and the means of prevention or remedy are suggested 

 by their habits. These appear for the most part to turn on such 

 measures as frequent moving of all vessels in larders amongst which 

 the "Fishes " might shelter, shaking out clothes, well clearing out all 

 crannies in wardrobes, and moving books on shelves, or laid where it 

 is likely the creatures may have hidden themselves. In library pre- 

 vention it is said that pyrethrum powder sprinkled on the shelves is of 

 use ; and where woodwork is not in order, it could not fail to be of 

 service to fill up all chinks and crannies thoroughly. Where the 

 infestation is to such an extent that wall-papers are loosened by the 

 depredations, it would certainly be worth while to spread cloths or 

 some material smeared with some tenacious substance at the bottom 

 of the wall, and then taking the paper down piecemeal, and carefully, 

 let the "Fishes" fall, and thus be captured. If after this the 

 wall was repapered with some ingredient obnoxious to insect (or 

 rather to " Silver Fish ") life, mixed with the paste, and not hurt- 

 ful to tenants of the room, the trouble might presumably be soon 

 got rid of. 



Until about six years ago, L. saccharina was considered to be the 

 only species of the genus found in England ; and in the ' Cambridge 

 Natural History ' (volume published in 1895, p. 186) is the observa- 

 tion : — '' Thei-mobia furnonim, our other British Lepismid, has only 

 recently been discovered ; it is found in bakehouses at Cambridge and 

 elsewhere. The bakers call these insects Fire-brats, apparently con- 

 sidering them to be fond of heat." 



In the United States Bulletin published in 1896 (referred to in the 

 note below) this species, given under the synonym of Lepisma domestica, 

 Packard, is mentioned as having "become very common, particularly 

 in the last year or two, in England and on the Continent." Of this it 

 is said : " This species closely resembles the common * Silver Fish ' in 

 size and general appearance, but may be readily distinguished from it 



• ' Principal Household Insects of the United States,' p. 77. Bulletin No. 4. 

 New Series. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington. 189(5. 



