260 OBSERVATIONS ON 



kind of black-bob, which swarmed in her 

 kitchen when they got up in a morning 

 before day-break. 



Soon after this account, I observed an 

 unusual insect in one of my dark chimney 

 closets, and lind since, that in the night 

 they swarm also in my kitchen. On exa- 

 mination, I soon ascertained the species to 

 be the blatta orientalis of Linnaeus, and the 

 blatta molendinaria of Mouffet. The male 

 is winged ; the female is not, but shows 

 somewhat like the rudiments of wings, as 

 if in the pupa state. 



These insects belonged originally to the 

 warmer parts of America, and were con- 

 veyed from thence by shipping to the East 

 Indies ; and by means of commerce begin 

 to prevail in the more northern parts of 

 Europe, as Russia, Sweden, &c. How long 

 they have abounded in England I cannot 

 say; but have never observed them in my 

 house till lately. 



They love warmth, and haunt chimney- 

 closets, and the backs of ovens, Pod a says 

 that these and house-crickets will not asso- 



