ORTIIOPTERA. BLATTIDiE. il7 



Lucifuga, on account of their shunning the light. The insects which 

 they named Blattae were quite distinct, although it is impossible to 

 decide what they really were. 



These insects are extremely numerous, both as to numbers of 

 species and of individuals, and are apparently distributed over every 

 part of the globe ; the majority are, however, still undescribed, an ap- 

 parent distaste prevailing against them, evidently in consequence of 

 their obnoxious qualities- The largest species (some of which exceed 

 six inches in the expanse of their wings) are inhabitants of the tropics ; 

 but those which are aboriginal natives of our own country are of small 

 size ; the common domestic species, Blatta orientalis, being generally 

 supposed to be a native of India*, and to have been imported through 

 the aid of commerce, although it has been long domesticated with us, 

 and was probably first imported from the Levant, t It does not, 

 however, appear to have reached Sweden until about a century ago 

 (1734 or 1739). From our increased communication with America, 

 another larger species, supposed to be a native of that continent, is 

 now in the course of introduction amongst us, and is found in situ- 

 ations in London where merchandise is stored. I have observed it 

 swarming in a vessel recently arrived from the East Indies and the 

 Mauritius ; and M. Brulle states that this species is extremely in- 

 jurious in the Isle of Bourbon. It is owing to the constant supply of 

 food which they obtain amongst merchandise, &c., that they thus 

 attend the footsteps of commerce, and it is in consequence of this 

 that these insects abound in maritime commercial towns to the 

 greatest extent.:!^ They are nocturnal in their habits, hiding them- 

 selves during the day in holes and crevices, behind the vvainscot of 

 rooms, &c. They also appear to be fond of heat, being generally 

 found in the greatest profusion near the fireplaces, and especially 

 harbouring about bakers' ovens, vhere they have the additional in- 

 ducement of a constant supply of crumbs and other food. They also 



* IJrulk', liowever, observes, "Par suite de ces migrations contiiiuelles, il est quel- 

 ques especes dont le pays natal est devcnu un probleme, les noms qu'elles portent, 

 tels que ceux de 151atte orientale, Blatte d'Amerique, &c., ne leur convienncnt plus 

 reellement, et ne leur ont etc donnes que sur des rcnseignemens d'unc exactitude fort 

 douteuse." (Hist. Nat. Ins. torn. ix. p. 33. ) 



f " In Pliilippo navi quam nobilissimus illc alter Neptunus (Draeum cquitem 

 intclligo) aromatibus onustain vi cepit, ingens blattaruni alatarum nuiltiiudo in- 

 veniebatur." (IMouffet, Theatr. Ins. p. 138.) 



X Fifty years ago, the cockroach was recorded as a new importation at Selbourne 

 (fifty miles from London), by Gilbert White. 



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