A CURE FOR TOOTHACHE. 167 



had been cleared, they were almost uninhabitable, and 

 the more so that it was impossible to keep the windows 

 open, because the Lady-birds flocked into the room 

 in swarms, and would soon have replaced those which 

 had been ejected. Even throughout the winter many 

 of them retained their positions, having been kept 

 alive by the warmth of the fire. 



When the larva is full-fed, it attaches itself to a 

 twig or leaf by the end of its tail, and thus hangs with 

 its head downwards. Presently, the larval skin splits 

 down the back, but the pupa does not emerge, remain- 

 ing within the larval skin until it has changed into its 

 perfect form. It has been mentioned that the Lady- 

 birds give out a very unpleasant odour. This is caused 

 by a yellowish liquid which issues from the joints of the 

 limbs, as has been described in connection with the 

 Oil Beetle, and which has a very powerful and dis- 

 agreeable scent. In some parts of the country this 

 liquid is considered to be a cure for toothache, the 

 finger being first rubbed against the legs of the Lady- 

 bird, and then on the offending tooth. In its larval 

 state it emits a similar liquid from the tubercles upon 

 its body. 



THE family of the Trichopterygidae contains a 

 good many species, of which we select one as our 

 example. This is TricJiopteryx atomaria, which is 

 represented on the next page. 



These are all little Beetles, and, indeed, are the 

 tiniest of the British Coleoptera. Small as they are, 

 they can be easily recognised when examined by the 

 aid of a lens, so bold are the characteristics which 



