110 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
those assembled at the social tea-table, pops down upon 
any substance within its reach; now on a piece of cake,— 
now on the butter,—off again to the milk jug,—then gnaw- 
ing away at the candle, its long feelers occasionally getting 
a reminder from the flame, until at last defeated of its 
purpose, it flies off through the open window, to become 
troublesome to the inhabitants of some other abode. No- 
thing apparently comes amiss to these insects as food, 
although they generally show a partiality for substances 
of a greasy nature. Among other accomplishments, they 
will drink black ink ‘with impunity; lay a hat by for a 
few days, and on taking it down from its place, you will 
generally find the leather band inside gnawed all round by 
these mischievous creatures; a pair of dress boots will 
share a similar fate, the enamel being eaten off in several 
places. The ’Mudians generally use bags (to preserve extra 
boots and shoes in), well tied at the mouths, to keep out 
these indefatigable destructives. It is rather a handsome 
insect, of a chesnut colour. 
All kinds of poultry feed greedily upon the cockroach ; 
tame ducks spending entire moonlight nights in their capture. 
Another species of cockroach, far less numerous, and 
rarely seen, except in cellars, and.other dark places, is B. 
Maderensia. It is known on the islands under the name 
of “Knocker,” from a habit it has of making a noise like a 
person gently tapping a box, or skirting board. It is much 
larger than the former species, and the wings are of a 
whitey-brown colour. A tub of Indian corn is its favourite 
resort. 
Under the stones, in the cedar groves, we found vast 
numbers of apparently two distinct kinds of wingless cock- 
