HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



93 



menfe numbers in the lake of Chaico ; but the capital, 

 although near to that lake, is entirely free of that 

 nuifance. 



In the hot countries there is likewife a kind of fmall 

 flies, which make no buz in flying, but raife a violent 

 itching by their pun£lure, and an open wound is very 

 ready to be made, if the part is fcratched. 



In thofe hot countries alfo, but particularly in thofc 

 next the fea, Cucarachas are found in great numbers. 

 This is a large winged, filthy, pernicious infeft, which 

 fpoils all eatables, particularly any thing fweet ; but in 

 fome other refpe^ls is of great ufe in clearing houfes of 

 bugs. It has been remarked, that the fliips which 

 come from Europe full of bugs, return from New 

 Spain quite freed of thefe flinking infe£ls, by means 

 of the Cucarachas (F), 



The Butterflies of Mexico, are much more numer- 

 ous, and of greater variety, than in Europe. It is 

 impoflible to give any idea of their variety and beauty, 

 and the finefi: pencil is unable to imitate the exquilite 

 colouring and defign, which the Author of Nature has 

 difplayed in the embellifliment of their wings. Many 

 refpedlable Authors have celebrated them in their writ- 

 ings ; and Hernandez has made fome be drawn, in 

 order to give Europeans an idea of their beauty. 



But the butterflies although numerous, are not to be 

 compared in that refpedl:, with the locufl:s, which, 

 fometimes darkening the air like thick clouds, fall upon 

 the fea coafts, and lay wafte all the vegetation of the 

 country ; as I have myfelf witnefled, in the year 1738, 



or 



{b) This infe<St is likewife an enemy of the ftudious, preying upon the ink, 

 in the night-time, unlefs it is carefully covered up. The Spaniards call it Cw 

 carachoj others call it Kakerlaques^ and others Dermejies, &c. 



