Insect Pests. 487 



but tliey make agriculture almost impossible. The only 

 natural enemy of ants seems to be the Ant-eater, and this 

 animal is rather rare ; so the ants are allowed to increase 

 and multiply. The only means of safety is isolation by 

 water. There are black and yellow Wasps {Monedula) ; 

 but as they prey upon Mutiicas and Cockroaches, we will 

 say nothing against them. The large hairy Caterpillars 

 should be handled with care, as the irritation caused by 

 the nettling hairs is sometimes a serious matter. Cock- 

 roaches are great pests in the villages. Lice find a con- 

 genial home on the unwashed Indians of every tribe, but 

 particularly the Andeau. Jiggers and Fleas prefer dry, 

 sandy localities; they are accordingly most abounding on 

 the mountains. The Pacific slope is worthy of being called 

 flea-dom. After passing a night in any Indian hut with 

 these insatiate creatures, you are glad, as the author of 

 Eothen said after stopping at fleay Tiberias, to pick up 

 the wretched remains of your body long before morning 

 dawns. In general, vermin are most common in wilder- 

 nesses of recent growth and in sandy places. 



