COCKROACHES 257 



do not destroy, at least they soil, as they frequently deposit a 

 drop of their excrement where they settle, and, some way or 

 other, by that means damage what they cannot devour. They 

 fly into the flame of candles, and sometimes into the dishes ; are 

 very fond of ink and of oil, into which they are apt to fall and 

 perish, in which case they soon turn most offensively putrid — so 

 that a man might as well sit over the cadaverous body of a 

 large animal as write with the ink in which they have died. 

 They often fly into persons' faces or bosoms, and their legs being 

 armed with sharp spines, the pricking excites a sudden horror not 

 easily described. In old houses they swarm by myriads, 

 making every part filthy beyond description wherever they 

 harbour, which in the daytime is in dark corners, behind 

 clothes — in trunks, boxes, and, in short, every place where they 

 can lie concealed. In old timber and deal houses, when the 

 family is retired at night to sleep, this insect, among other dis- 

 agreeable properties, has the power of making a noise which very 

 much resembles a pretty smart knocking with the knuckle upon 

 the wainscoting. The Blatta gigantea in the West Indies is 

 therefore frequently known by the name of the drummer. 

 Three or four of these noisy creatures will sometimes be impelled 

 to answer one another, and cause such a drumming noise that 

 none but those who are very good sleepers can rest for them. 

 What is most disagreeable, those who have not gauze curtains 

 are sometimes attacked by them in their sleep ; the sick and 

 dying have their extremities attacked ; and the ends of the toes 

 and fingers of the dead are frequently stripped both of the skin 

 .and flesh." 



According to Tschudi, the cucaracha and chilicabra — two 

 large species of the cockroach — infest Peru in such num- 

 bers, as almost to reduce the inhabitants to despair. Grreedy, 

 bold, cunning, they force their way into every hut, devour 

 the stores, destroy the clothes, intrude into the beds and 

 dishes, and defy every means that is resorted to for their 

 destruction. Fortunately, they are held in check by many 

 formidable enemies, particularly by a small ant, and a pretty 

 little bird {Troglodytes audax) belonging to the wagtail 

 family, which has some difficulty in mastering the larger 

 cockroaches. It first of all bites off their head, and then 

 devours their body, with the exception of their membranaceous 



