140 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



We have but little experience, in our favoured 

 land, of the more extensive domestic destructions 

 wrought by larvse. But in hot countries they 

 become formidable, by reason of their numbers. 

 In India, 1 * particularly during the rainy season, the 

 interior of the houses swarms with them ; some 

 climb the walls, some ascend the table, some feast 

 on the viands, and altogether, by their numbers 

 and appearance, they produce a degree of disgust 

 and loathing at food, which cannot be overcome 

 for a long time by fresh residents. We may 

 mention, before concluding this part of our 

 subject, that of those that do annoy us do- 

 mestically, some have appetites for very strange 

 kinds of food, some love wine, some vine- 

 gar, some butter and cheese ; some revel in 

 a pot of preserves, some attack our meat, and 

 one is mentioned by Reaumur as delighting in 

 chocolate ! 



If surprise be expressed that we have dwelt so 

 long upon the eating propensities of larvas, let it 

 be remembered that it was formerly said at p. 94, 



* To protect the wine from them it is customary to have little 

 silver covers for the wine-glasses, which are put on immediately 

 that the glass is taken from the lips. 



