236 THE DEA TH- WA TCH. 



" The superstition about the Death-Watch extends 

 from England to Cashmere, and across India 

 diagonally to the remotest nook of Bengal, over 

 three thousand miles distance from the entrance of 

 the Indian Punjaub." 



The only effectual remedy for the ravages of 

 this beetle appears to be pouring spirits of wine 

 in which corrosive sublimate has been dissolved, 

 into the minute holes ; the spirit finds its way from 

 one tunnel to another, and the beetles may be seen 

 dropping out in numbers. If the piece of furni- 

 ture is of large size it may require several applica- 

 tions to be effectual, but the process will render the 

 wood distasteful to the insect, and probably stop 

 its operations. 



A beetle of an allied species, Anobium tessa- 

 latnm, makes the same tapping sound in wood- 

 work, and a minute insect, Atropos pulsatorius, 

 which may frequently be found under the paper 

 lining of picture-frames, is also credited with the 

 power of making a clicking noise ; but this can 

 hardly be so loud as the sound of the ordinary 

 Death- Watch beetle. 



