NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 327 



shower of rain in the evening will come flying through 

 the open windows in a most unpleasant manner. It is 

 most destructive to books, boots, shoes, and indeed any- 

 thing and everything covered with leather. 



Another species of Cockroach is Blatta maderensia, or 

 " Knocker," which is much larger than the former species, 

 and less abundant. 



The Common Flea (Pulex irritan) exceedingly numerous 

 in the early spring, said to come with the whales. 



The Chigre, Chigor, or Jigger {Pulex penetrans), a minute 

 burrowing Flea. 



August 2nd, 1847. — Saw a coloured boy killing a Centi- 

 pede {Scolopendrce) in the front street. This insect was 

 not more than five and a half or six inches long. It was 

 too much mutilated to keep as a specimen, and was inter- 

 esting only on account of its being the sole instance of my 

 meeting with it in a state of nature, during the all but seven 

 years that I have been in the islands. 



A few years since a Centipede of about eight inches in 

 length was captured in the Barrack yard by some men 

 employed in digging the foundation of a new guard house, 

 which was afterwards shown to me by the adjutant, 

 Lieutenant Smith, 20th Regiment, preserved in spirits. 

 These are the only instances of the Centipede having been 

 found in this part of the islands that I am aware of. It is 

 said to be more common at St. George's. 



The Mosquito (Culex) very troublesome during the 

 summer months. There are two, if not three, distinct 

 species. The Plumed Gnat, or Mosquito, and the common 

 kind of Mosquito that is not plumed. Hinder legs barred 



