THE DEATH-WATCH TEttMES. 215 



Description Where found Kggs Food. 



ance of a louse : its mouth, however, with a glass 

 is seen to be reddish, and its eyes are yellow. 

 The antennae are sharply pointed and somewhat 

 Jong. It is sometimes, though very rarely, ob- 

 served to have wings. 



This insect, is usually found in old wood, de- 

 cayed furniture, museums and neglected books; 

 and both the male and female have the power of 

 making a ticking noise, not unlike that of a 

 watch, to attract each other. The female lay a 

 her eggs in dry and dusty places, where they are 

 likely to meet with the least disturbance: these 

 are exceedingly small, and are not unlike the 

 nits or eggs of lice. They are generally hatched 

 about the beginning of March, or a little sooner 

 or later according to the weather. After leaving 

 the egg, the animals are so small as scarcely to 

 be discerned without the assistance of a glass. 

 They continue in this larva state, somewhat re- 

 sembling in appearance the mites in cheese, 

 about two months; after which they undergo 

 their change. They feed on dead flies and other 



insects; and from their numbers and voracitv, 



* ' 



often very much deface cabinets of natural his- 

 tory. They also live on various other substances, 

 and may frequently be observed hunting for nu- 

 tritious particles with great care and attention, 

 among the dust in which they are found: turning 

 it over with their heads, and searching among it 

 somewhat in the manner of swine. Many of 

 them live through the winter; but during that 

 3 



