THE DEA TH- WA TCH. 235 



often see to our regret in some valued piece of 

 furniture. 



The grub throws out the yellow dust of the 

 wood often the first indication of its being what 

 we call "worm-eaten" and when full grown.it 

 forms a cell in the wood in which it undergoes 

 its change into the perfect beetle. 



It is difficult to convince the ignorant that the 

 ticking sound made by this insect is nothing more 

 formidable than the call of the beetle to its mate ! 

 It strikes its hard-shelled head against the wood, 

 and so gives rise to the clicking sound ; other 

 Anobiumz hear it and reply in the same way, and 

 thus the amorous duets and trios go on, often to 

 the great annoyance of the sleepless and suffering. 

 Do what we will, the little torments are beyond 

 our reach, and nothing will avail to stop the noise, 

 though on the other hand, if we wish to set it 

 going I believe we can do so by tapping sharply 

 upon any wainscot where the beetles are known to 

 exist. It is strange to read how widely the fear 

 of this insect noise has spread in other countries 

 besides our own. Mr. John Timbs in his interest- 

 ing book, " Things not Generally Known," says : 



