^^6 THE DOMESTIC DERMESTEJji 



^e "Domejlic Dermejies *, 



1 HE form of this infe£l is oblong, and almoft cyllndri" 

 Cal : The elytra are flriated ; the thorax thick and gib- 

 bous. There are niany varieties in the fpecies, differing. 

 confiderably both in lize and colour ; fome being found of 

 a dark brown, and others of a much lighter hue. When 

 touched, it is ftruck with fuch an appreheniion of danger, 

 that it inftantlyidraws back its head under the thorax, 

 and its feet under the abdomen, remaining mctionlefs 

 in that pofition till the danger is over f . 



Of all infers this is the mofl deftvufiive to woodea 

 furniture, where it is found in vail numbers, their larva 

 slate perforating it into thofe fmall round holes that ap- 

 pear on the external furface, while the inner parts arc 

 reduced to powder. There are few kinds of wood fo 

 hard as to be proof againft the attacks of thefe animals, 

 after they have remained long enough out to be drained 

 of their natviral juices. It does not feem to be afoertainf 

 ed how the eggs of this animal came at firfl to be depo- 

 iited in timber : it would feem, that the winged animal 

 which produces them, has the power of perforating cells 

 tor their reception ; but it is evident, that the young in 

 their larva ftate have a much greater degree of voracity, 

 than the perfeci animals, which are feldom found devour- 

 ing 



« Defmefte* domeaicus, I.in. Syft. f Batbat gentra ialt&. 



