TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. 367 



This black beetle-like roach has a peculiarity all his own, 

 a strong one, by which you may know when he has met 

 with an accident and become damaged in a collision, 

 whether it be with your own foot or some other weapon ; 

 when "crushed to earth," down-trodden and oppressed, he 

 gives one the idea of having committed suicide by means 

 of prussic acid, or oil of almonds, so powerful and all -per- 

 vading is that scent on the air. 



We found out all about it, to our sorrow once, soon after 

 our arrival in Florida. 



We had not yet become inured to the big black ''critters" 

 that sometimes appeared suddenly from behind pictures, 

 or brackets, or other dark places; and one evening, when 

 the hall was filled with a band of serenaders, a member of 

 our family instinctively attacked the enemy, and all too 

 successfully, as a pungent odor of almonds presently in- 

 formed the guests that a murder had been done. There was 

 a good deal of fun made of the attacking party by those 

 who had grown wiser from experience, and after that the 

 big black was allowed to flee unmolested, especially if com- 

 pany was "to the fore." 



The other roach is not a perfumer by profession, and 

 hence less hesitation is felt in dispatching him at all times 

 and seasons, provided you can catch him, for he is very 

 like a flea, "you put your finger on him, and he isn't 

 there." 



Though innocent of manufacturing perfumery, he is 

 even more exasperating than his brother ; he is a " grow- 

 er " of wings, and right well does he understand how to 

 use them. He thinks nothing of making a cataj)ult of his 

 wings, and dashing his long, slender brown body at full 

 speed across the room, caring not at all whether he alights 

 on the wall, table, book, or your own shrinking head or 

 shoulders. 



