78 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



odour, an odour which they communicate to whatever 

 they touch. When there is moonlight they fly outside, 

 but on dark nights the lamps in the house attract 

 them ; if not prevented, they enter in swarms. To 

 exclude them either gauze frames must be fitted to the 

 doorways, or else the doors must be closed before 

 the lamps are brought in. 



The other evening, tempted by the pleasant coolness, 

 I omitted this last precaution. I was soon made most 

 unpleasantly aware of my forgetfulness. I was seated 

 reading and drinking my tea. Of a sudden one of 

 these little pests fell into my cup ; at the same time 

 four others alighted on my clothes, and a fifth got en- 

 tangled in my hair : but these were merely the advance 

 guard, a small party of explorers. In a minute or two 

 after the main body arrived. They came in by hun- 

 dreds, I may say by thousands : they filled the air ; 

 they covered the lamp-shade ; they drowned themselves 

 by scores in the teacup and milk -jug. I called the 

 servants and had the doors closed, but it was too late : 

 the insects were already in possession. I had no 

 remedy but to go out myself and sit and watch the 

 stars till it was time to retire to rest. 



These "flying bugs" are unpleasant enough when 

 they simply alight on one's hands or face ; they are 

 more disagreeable when they become entangled in one's 

 hair. But it is when they fly into one's mouth and are 

 accidentally swallowed that the full horror of their 

 oflensiveness is realized. Such an occurrence is one 

 that does not soon fade from the memory. 



Nevertheless, nauseating as is the scent of these 



