358 Miscellaneous. 



bestow ridicule upon those who direct their attention lo this inter- 

 esting branch of zoology. That such was not the case, however, 

 even at a recent period, many individuals now living can bear testi- 

 mony. To what fortunate combination of events then is the rapid 

 change which has taken place to be ascribed } Chiefly, I apprehend, 

 to the increased intelligence of the age, and to a growing taste for 

 natural history ; a taste, as regards the particular department here 

 alluded to, promoted by numerous valuable publications on the sub- 

 ject which of late years have issued from the press ; and especially, 

 in this country, by the excellent ' Introduction to Entomology ' by 

 Messrs. Kirby and Spence, which has greatly contributed to the re- 

 moval of prejudices formerly entertained against the investigation of 

 the minute beings so ably and extensively treated upon in its pages. 

 Among the various benefits deducible from an intimate acquaint- 

 ance with the structure, functions and ceconomy of insects, such as 

 exercise a direct influence upon our persons and property unques- 

 tionably occupy the foremost rank ; consequently, the simple means 

 which I am about to propose of obtaining protection from a disgust- 

 ing creature whose irritating movements and venomous punctures 

 nightly disturb the repose of thousands of the human race, may be 

 expected to meet with the cordial approbation of all those who are 

 compelled by their avocations, or by any other circumstances, to 

 reside in large towns, where the bed-bug generally abounds. 



Being strictly nocturnal in its habits, this loathsome pest quits its 

 retreat in quest of prey during the silent hours of darkness, and the 

 sphere of its annoying operations is limited almost entirely, if not 

 wholly, to the precincts of beds. Now in order that its access to 

 them may be eflfectually prevented, a careful examination of its 

 organs of locomotion, for the purpose of ascertaining with precision 

 the true character and extent of their powers, is indispensable ; and 

 as it is apterous, although included in the Linnsean order Hemiptera, 

 the legs alone require to be minutely inspected. 



It is a well-known fact that many insects are enabled to ascend hard 

 dry bodies having polished perpendicular surfaces by the emission 

 of a viscous secretion from certain appendages connected with their 

 tarsi, while others, and by much the greater number of species, are 

 utterly incapable of doing so in consequence of not being provided 

 with the parts constituting this climbing apparatus ; and as obser- 

 vation and experiment supply conclusive evidence that the bed-bug 

 is comprised under the latter head, and is disqualified for leaping by 

 its organization, an easy and sure method of counteracting its trou- 

 blesome propensities immediately presents itself. 



From the particulars already stated, it is suflficiently obvious that 

 the bed-bug can obtain access to beds in no other manner than by 

 climbing; and it is equally plain that it cannot ascend hard dry 

 objects whose surfaces are highly polished and are either vertical, 

 convex, or inclined from the base outwards ; if, therefore, a bed be 

 so placed that it does not touch any part of the room in which it is 

 situated except the floor with its feet, and if they consist of truncated 

 cones of glass with the smaller end downwards ; or if each of the 



