110 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 



those assembled at the social tea-table, pops down upoix 

 any substance within its reach ; now on a piece of cake, — 

 now on the butter, — off again to the milk jug, — then gnaw- 

 ing away at the candle, its long feelers occasionally getting 

 a reminder from the flame, until at last defeated of its 

 purpose, it flies off through the open window, to become 

 troublesome to the inhabitants of some other abode. No- ■ 

 thing apparently comes amiss to these insects as food, 

 although they generally show a partiality for substances 

 of a greasy nature. Among other accomplishments, they 

 will drink black ink with impunity ; lay a hat by for a 

 few days, and on taking it down from its place, you will 

 generally find the leather band iaside gnawed aU round by 

 these mischievous creatures ; a pair of dress boots will 

 share a similar fate, the enamel being eaten off in several 

 places. The 'Mudians generally use bags (to preserve extra 

 boots and shoes in), well tied at the mouths, to keep out 

 these indefatigable destructives. It is rather a handsome 

 insect, of a chesnut colour. 



AU kinds of poultry feed greedily upon the cockroach ; 

 tame ducks spending entire moonlight nights in their capture. 



Another species of cockroach, far less numerous, and 

 rarely seen, except in cellars, and other dark places, is B. 

 Maderensia. It is known on the islands under the name 

 of "Knocker," from a habit it has of making a noise like a 

 person gently tapping a box, or skirting board. It is much 

 larger than the former species, and the wings are of a 

 whitey-brown colour. A tub of Indian corn is its favourite 

 resort. 



Under the stones, in the cedar groves, we found vast 

 numbers of apparently two distinct kinds of wingless cock- 



