LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 83 



eyes. It is very much afraid of being discovered, 

 and generally chooses to make its habitation in 

 old wood, sometimes in old books, or the paper 

 on walls, and frequently in the back of an old 

 bureau, where it has little fear of being observ- 

 ed, or intruded upon ; and lives very snugly, 

 quite unconscious of the alarm it may occa- 

 sion by its ticking, which is produced by the 

 striking of its head and wings against the wood 

 where it has taken shelter. 



Some ignorant persons have supposed that 

 because they heard the sound, without seeing 

 any thing which could produce it, it must be 

 intended as a sign to them of approaching death ; 

 and as the noise very much resembles the tick- 

 ing of a watch, it has, from this circumstance, 

 been called the Death- Watch. This foolish 

 notion has been handed down from father to 

 son, and even now, it appears, causes little girls 

 to tremble, and cover up their heads at night, 

 lest they should hear the dreaded sound. 



I recollect some amusing lines of Dean Swift's, 

 which I will repeat to you : 



" A wood worm 

 That lies in old wood, like a hare in her form. 



