THE HEMIPTERA. 59 



It is supposed, and not without good reason, that 

 they have the power of instilhng a poison into the 

 wound, which has the effect of rendering the blood 

 more fluid, and better adapted for suction. 



Insects of the order Hemiptera abstract the juices 

 of plants and animals by means of an instrument of 

 a construction altogether diff'erent. To this order 

 the bug (Cimex lectulariusj belongs ; but it is a 

 singular fact, and one which shows that this dis- 

 gusting visitant must have been comparatively little 

 known in the days of " good Queen Bess," that 

 although the word bug occurs on five or six different 

 occasions in Shakspeare's Plays, it is in every instance 

 synonymous with bugbear, and does not designate 

 the insect. Thus Petruchio, unawed by the descrip- 

 tion of the " wild cat " Catharine, scornfully exclaims 

 to the lovers of Bianca : " Tush, tush! fear boys with 

 bugs ;" and when Leontes, inflamed with groundless 

 jealousy against Hermione, bids her " look for no 

 less than death," her reply contains the same word 

 in precisely a similar sense : — 



" Sir, spare your threats, 



The bug which you will fright me with I seek." 



Winter's Tale, Act III. Sc. I. 



It is not SO, however, with another, to which you 



would be most likely to apply the words of Jaques — 



" let 's meet as Uttle as we can." 



As You Like It, Act III. Sc. II. 



