THE BED BTJG^ 30; 



time, which are white, and, when protruded, are 

 covered with a viscous matter, which, afterwards 

 hardening, sticks them firmly to the place where 

 they are deposited. These are usually hatched in 

 about three weeks. The general times of laying are 

 March, May, July, and September : so that from 

 every female Bug that outlives the season, as many 

 as two hundred young may be produced. Thus is 

 the excessive increase of these nauseous animals to 

 be accounted for, where proper care is not taken to 

 destroy them. 



The young, for some time after they first escape 

 from the egg, are perfectly white, but they generally 

 become brown in the course of about three weeks. 

 In eleven weeks they are at full growth. They are 

 then very watchful and cunning creatures ; and so 

 fierce, among their own species, that they will some- 

 times contend with the utmost fury ; and in their 

 combats they seldom leave off till either one or both 

 of the animals are killed. Spiders are very fond oi 

 them, and often seize them for food. 



In order to clear a house of Bugs the leading point 

 is cleanliness in every respect, for this is their 

 greatest annoyance ; and by this alone their increase 

 is to be materiallv checked. The first young begin 

 to burst from the eggs early in spring, frequently- 

 even in February; At this season it is that the 

 greatest attention is required. The bed infested by 

 them ought to be stripped of all its furniture, which 

 should be washed, and, if linen, even boiled, or if 

 stuff hot-pressed. The bedstead should be taken 

 in pieces, and dusted, and washed with spirits of 



