ORTHOPTERA. 115 



by means of a fluid ejected from the mouth, and which 

 corrodes, discolours, and imparts an offensive smell to 

 whatever has been subjected to its action. The writer 

 has seen the greater part of the contents of a book-case 

 injured in this way, books bound in red or violet-coloured 

 cloth appearing to be especially attractive to the Cock- 

 roaches. 



The Cockroaches have a curious manner of laying 

 their eggs, not singly, but enclosed in a strong, some- 

 what bean-shaped capsule, on the outside of which may 

 be seen the impression of the eggs, which lie within in 

 a double row, and in the common Cockroach number 

 about sixteen. The female sometimes runs about for 

 days with this case protruding from her body, a raised 

 serrate ridge along the upper edge of the case helping to 

 retain it in this position. The mother has been observed 

 to assist the young larv in making their escape from 

 this capsule. 



It would be unfair to suppress any fact which tells in 

 favour of this much abhorred insect, and as there is one 

 yet more abhorred, and unhappily equally domestic in 

 its habits, it may be well to say that a favourite dainty 

 of the Cockroach is the common Bed Bug, and one 

 whose attractions may probably account for its occasional 

 incursions into bedrooms. 



Our native species of Cockroaches are much smaller, 

 more delicate, and even attractive-looking insects, in 

 which a careless observer would trace but little likeness 

 to the dark, long-legged, foul-smelling Cockroach of the 

 kitchen. They are found out of doors ; some species 

 inland upon herbage of various kinds, others near the 

 sea-shore sheltered under stones, while some are found 

 beneath the bark of trees. B. Lapponia, PI. IV., fig. 2 



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