NATURAL HISTORY. 207 



are quick at discovering, and skilfiil in extracting 

 them. The operator begins with a short needle to 

 open and widen the minute orifice in the cuticle, 

 between which and the cutis vera (true skin) the 

 swollen body of the pregnant female has taken its 

 place; slowly and cautiously the depredator is ex- 

 posed, until at length he removes the insect uninjured, 

 without giving any pain, or drawing the least drop of 

 blood. 



The great danger to be guarded against is the 

 rupture of the delicate skin of the jigger's abdomen, 

 stretched and attenuated as it is by the great increase 

 of its contents ; if this should occur, the nits would 

 escape into the wound, and produce a dreadful ulcer ; 

 such, however, is the skill of the sable practitioners, 

 that it very rarely occurs. After the operation, a 

 little grease and the ash of tobacco is rubbed into the 

 empty cavity. There are two species of jigger, the 

 white, and the green or poison jigger, both of which 

 are very numerous and annoying. 



Among the numerous family of the Coleoptera 

 we have a species of the genus Anohium. Anohium 

 pertinax is of uniform brownish-black colour, and 

 is very common in our houses. The two sexes 

 in the season of love have the habit of calling one 

 another by beating with the mandibles upon the 



