MOSQUITOS. 353 



actually purchased in the Strand, London, and, with a 

 rueful countenance, I stood the picture of desperation. 

 I doubt if the physiognomy of Marius over the ruins 

 of Carthage could have looked more doleful. On my 

 way home, talking the matter over with my fidus 

 Achates, we agreed upon the verdict of " served me 

 right," for attempting to immolate so noble a victim 

 in such an ignoble manner ; and doubly was I con- 

 vinced of the time-honoured French adage, " L'homme 

 propose et Dieu dispose." 



But let not the enthusiast run away with the idea 

 that in Maine there are no drawbacks to pleasure, that 

 sport is found without an alloy, for the pests of every 

 new land here swarm black flies, mosquitos, and sand- 

 flies ; but fortunately their reign of terror does not 

 exist over six weeks. The first (the black fly), which 

 is about the size of a small housefly, and not dissimilar 

 in appearance, is a perfect cannibal, refusing to be 

 driven away, willingly immolating himself in his thirst 

 for blood, and drawing blood whenever he can obtain 

 a footing ; up your trousers, down your shirt- sleeves 

 or collar, everywhere he will get at his victim. Kill 

 them by thousands, the phalanxes apparently undi- 

 minished will return to the attack ; and even domestic 

 animals do not escape. The unfortunate cow that had 

 been driven up to supply us with milk I have seen 

 changed from a strawberry to a black, by the myriads 

 of these vampires that clung to her ; and, but that we 

 lit a large smudge* for her to stand over, I believe the 

 poor old creature would have died under the incessant 

 torture and irritation. But if the poor cow suffered, 



* Decayed damp wood, which burns slowly and emits a great 

 quantity of smoke . 



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