106 DIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 



of themselves a . The serrated haustellum of the ticks, 

 which, like the barbed sting of a bee, cannot be extract- 

 ed unless the animal cooperates, is well worth your in- 

 spection ; and the species which infests our dogs is so 

 common that you will have no difficulty in procuring 

 one for examination. 



I have now introduced you to the principal insects of 

 the Aptera order of Linne, which, in spite of all his care 

 and all his power, assail the lord of the creation, and 

 make him their food. You will here, however, perhaps 

 accuse me of omitting one very prominent annoyer of 

 our comfort and repose, which you think belongs to this 

 tribe — the bed-bug {Cimex lectularius, L.). When you 

 are a more practised entomologist, you will see clearly 

 that this, though it has no wings, appertains to another 

 order : nevertheless it may be introduced here without 

 impropriety. Though now too common and well known, 

 in this country it was formerly a rare insect. Had it 

 not, two noble ladies, mentioned by MoufTet, would 

 scarcely have been thrown into such an alarm by the 

 appearance of bug-bites upon them; which, until their 

 fears were dispelled by their physician, who happened 

 also to be a naturalist, they considered as nothing less 

 than symptoms of the plague. Being shown the living 

 cause of their fright, their fears gave place to mirth and 

 laughter b . Commerce, with many good things, has also 

 introduced amongst us many great evils, of which noxious 

 insects form no small part; and one of her worst presents 



a De Geer, vii. 154-60. 



b Theatr. Ins. 270. This happened in 1503; which circumstance 

 refutes SouthalPs opinion that bugs were not known in England 

 before 1670. 



