164 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



in the day affected us most disagreeably. We were 

 not long in discovering the cause. While we were 

 at supper, we had noticed in the half light around 

 us, several insects, somewhat like bugs, of an inch in 

 length, which we knew to be the cockroach (Blatta 

 orientalis). These insects, which were formerly un- 

 known in Europe, have been carried by commerce to 

 all our larger towns, and are well known to the 

 bakers of Paris under the name of Noirot or Can- 

 querlin.* Their long oval body, which is brown above 

 and yellowish-brown below, is as flat as that of a 

 bug ; but the odour which they exhale is far stronger 

 and more nauseating than that given oif by the 



* The genus Blatta, belonging to the order of the Orthoptera, 

 comprises a large number of species, several of which are found in 

 France, without on that account being indigenous in the country. 

 One of our indigenous species was known to the ancients, who 

 called it lucifuga, in consequence of its aversion to light. All 

 these insects appear, however, to be similar in this respect. 



Among all the Blattce which have been imported, and which are 

 unfortunately too well acclimatised amongst us, I will instance 

 our common kitchen Cockroach, Blatta orientalis, which is the one 

 referred to in the text, and the American Cockroach, Blatta 

 americana. The former of these appears to have been brought to 

 Europe in trading vessels from the Levant. This species is partial 

 to heat, and generally takes up its abode near bakers' ovens or 

 furnaces. It is said that the Cricket pursues and destroys it. The 

 American Cockroach was not introduced into Paris until the 

 beginning of the present century, when, as we learn from M. 

 Dumeril, it was imported in 1802 into the hothouses at the Museum, 

 from packing cases which had been used in the transport of plants. 

 This species is much larger than the preceding one, measuring 

 three inches in length, inclusive of the antennae. It is said to do 

 much damage in the sugar plantations in America, but we do not 

 think that it has been found very destructive in the Jardin de s 

 Plantes. 



