302 - DIVISION III. ARTICULATED ANIMALS.—CLASS IV. INSECTA. 
when, after many centuries had elapsed since his appearance on the globe, 
men formed themselves into societies, into republics, or little states. 
The bug is not a gluttonous insect, always bloodthirsty ; on the contrary, 
its sobriety is remarkable. It is only after a prolonged fast that it bites 
animals; and Andouin has stated that it can live a year, and even two 
years, without food. 
RKepuvius. — This genus has the proboscis short, very acute, and capable 
of pinching strongly. Some of the species produce a noise similar to that 
made by the Capricorn Beetle. 
I. Personatus. —This insect inhabits the interior of houses, where it 
lives upon flies and other insects. 
“This bug,” says Charles de Geer, “has, in the pupal condition, or 
before its wings are developed, an appearance altogether hideous and revolt- 
ing. One would take it, at the first glance, for one of the ugliest spiders. 
That which above all renders it so disagreeable to the sight is, that it is 
entirely covered, and, as it were, enveloped with a grayish matter, which 
is nothing else but the dust which one sees in the ecrners of badly-swept 
rooms, and which is generally mixed with sand and particles of wood, or 
suk, or other similar matters which come from furniture and clothes, render- 
ing the legs of this insect thick and deformed, and giving to its whole body 
a very singular appearance. 
“What instincts! what habits! Under this borrowed costume, under 
this cloak, which is no part of itself, the insect, as it were masked, has 
become twice its real size. What becomes of its disguise? and how does 
it manage to walk? Of what use to it is this dirty and grotesque fancy 
dress ? 
“Tt walks as fast, when it likes, as other bugs; but generally its walk is 
slow, and it moves with measured steps. After having taken one step for- 
ward, it stops for a while, and then takes another, leaving, at each move- 
ment, the opposite leg in repose: it goes on thus continually, step after step 
in succession, which gives it the appearance of walking as if by jerks, and 
in measure. It makes almost the same sort of movement with its antenne, 
which it moves also at intervals and by jerks. All these movements haye 
a more singular appearance than it is possible for us to describe.” 
By means of this disguise, it can approach little animals, which become 
its prey, such as fleas, spiders, and bed-bugs. 
To see what a curious appearance the Reduvius presents, one should take 
off its borrowed costume. Then it will be seen to be an entirely different 
animal, and one which has nothing repulsive about it. With the exception 
of the hemelytra and wings, which it has not yet got, all its parts have the 
form which they are to have later, after the wings are developed. 
