Microscopical Essays. 



%7 



fharp eyes to look before it leaps, for which purpofe it's legs are 

 excellently adapted, for the joints are fo conftru&ed that it can 

 fold them up as it were, and when it leaps, fpring them out all 

 at once, whereby it's whole ftrength is exerted, and the body 

 often raifed two hundred times it's own diameter ; there are fe- 

 veral joints in the legs ; they are alfo very hairy, and terminated 

 by two long hookod (harp claws ; the two fore legs are placed 

 very near the neck, and often conceal the probofcis from our 

 view, the other four join all at the breaft : the flexure of the 

 two fore ones is contrary to that of the hinder ones : the pro- 

 bofcis, or fucker, witrTwhich it penetrates the fkin, is placed at 

 the end of the fnout, and is not eafily feen, except the two fore 

 legs are firft removed ; in it are included a couple of darts or 

 lancets, which, after the probofcis has made an entrance, are 

 thruft farther into the flefh, and make the blood flow from the 

 adjacent parts, and occalion that round red fpot, with a hole in 

 the center of it, called a flea bite. 



The bed bug is another naufeous infect, " that intrudes upon 

 the peace of mankind, and often banifhes that fleep which even 

 anxiety and forrow permitted to approach : the night is the fea- 

 fon when the bed bug iflues from it's retreat to make it's depre- 

 dations : by day it lurks in the moft fecret parts of the bed, takes 

 the advantage of every chink and cranny to make a fecure lodge- 

 ment, and contrives it's habitation with fo much art, that fcarce 

 any induftry can difcover it's retreat : but when darknefs promifes 

 fecurity, it then iflues from every corner of the bed, drops from 

 •the teller, and crawls from behind the arras, and travels to the 

 unhappy patient, who vainly wilhes for reft and refrefhment." 



Thefe 



