WOOD-BORING BEETLES 19 



it closely, however, the apparent resemblances vanish, 

 and the creature is easily seen to be a true insect, and 

 is moreover found to be as hard -bodied as a Ptinus, 

 instead of exhibiting the soft and yielding integument 

 of a spider. 



It occurs commonly in houses, often in considerable 

 numbers. It is not a wood-borer, but feeds on anything 

 it can come across that is at all edible, and, in con- 

 sequence, most frequents cupboards where stores of pro- 

 visions are kept. It was once found in great numbers 

 in a plate-cupboard, where it was said, though with 

 what degree of justice it is very difficult to understand, 

 to have done considerable damage to the silver stored 

 there. It has no wings, and is therefore not much of a 

 wanderer, so that when a colony has once established 

 itself in any part of a house, the successive generations 

 are likely to remain in those quarters as long as pro- 

 visions last, unless forcibly ejected. It is probably not 

 a truly indigenous insect, but, like many others, has 

 been imported from abroad, so that, although not blessed 

 with great powers of locomotion, it has yet been a con- 

 siderable traveller. 



Under the microscope, the yellow clothing of Niptus 

 is seen to be composed of two totally distinct elements. 

 There are a number of longitudinal rows of long hairs 

 or bristles, projecting considerably above the general 

 surface, and pointing backwards ; and beneath these, 

 closely covering the body, a quantity of tiny yellow 

 scales, overlapping one .another. Each scale is bluntly 

 pointed at the place of its attachment to the body, and 

 at the outer extremity is usually produced into two long 

 pointed projections at the sides, with a shorter one 

 between them (Fig. 7). Not unfrequently the central 

 process is also cleft. When the scales are removed, the 



