JOO THE BED BUG. 



ralist may also himself sometimes experience the 

 severity of their nature. 



THE BED BUG *. 



The Bed Bug, which is a nauseous and trouble- 

 some inhabitant of most houses in large towns, is 

 singular in having neither wings nor wing-cases. 

 It runs about with considerable activity in the 

 night, to suck the blood of persons that are asleep, 

 hiding itself by day in crevices and other retired 

 places. 



It is supposed to have been first introduced to 

 this country in the fir timber that was brought over 

 to rebuild London after it had suffered by the great 

 fire ; for it is generally said that Bugs were not 

 known in England before that time ; and many of 

 them were found almost immediately afterwards in 

 the new-built houses. 



Their most favourite food is blood, dried paste, 

 size, deal, beech, osier, and some other kinds of tim- 

 ber, the sap of which they suck ; and on any of these 

 they are able to exist. They will not feed on oak, 

 walnut, cedar, or mahogany ; for several pairs that, 

 for the sake of experiment, were confined with 

 these kinds of wood soon died, whilst those kept 

 with the others continued to thrive through the 

 whole year. 



The female generally lays about fifty eggs at a 



* Synonyms. — Cimex lectularius. Linn. — Acanthia lectularla 

 Tabricius. 



