314 STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



rosiris, which is one of the gall-makers. It is one of the largest 

 of the British weevils, being more than half an inch in length, 

 and is very simply clad in grey and black. 



If the reader desires to discover the larva of the beetle he may 

 probably be successful by going to any waste spot where thistles 

 are allowed to grow, and examining them carefully about the 

 stems and roots. Nothing is more common than to find the 

 stems of thistles swollen in parts, and in many cases the root is 

 affected as well as the stem. Fortunately for the gardener, who 

 hates thistles, even though he should be a Scotchman, as is so 

 often the case with skilled gardeners, the larva of the Cleonus 

 feeds on the juices of the plant at the expense of its life, so that 

 the thistle dies just before the seed is developed, and a further 

 extension of the plant is thereby prevented. 



There are also gall-making insects among the Diptera. Such, 

 for example, is the Thistle-gall Fly ( Urophora Cardui), which 

 produces large and hard woody galls upon the thistle, as well as 

 several species of the larger genus Tephritis, some species or 

 which live in the parts of fructification of several flowers, the 

 common dandelion being infested by them. 



We must now glance at a few of the insects that are parasitic 

 upon other animals. Their numbers are very great, but we 

 must restrict ourselves to those which construct some sort of a 

 habitation. 



The only insect which can be said to be parasitic on man, and 

 at the same time to form a habitation, is the celebrated Chigoe 

 (Fulex penetrans)^ otherwise called the Jigger, or P2arth Fly. 

 This terrible pest is a native of Southern America and the West 

 Indian islands, and is too well known, especially by the negroes 

 and natives. 



This insect, which is closely allied to the common flea, and 

 much resembles it in general appearance, contrives to hide itself 

 under the nails of the fingers or toes, usually the latter. Having 

 gained this point of vantage, it proceeds very gradually to make 

 its way under the skin, and, strange to say, does so without 



