48 Insect Life : Its Why and Wherefore 
sixteen in number and are deposited in a 
leathery capsule or case, oblong in shape, 
which she carries about with her, fixed, 
with a glue-like substance, to the abdomen. 
This little purse of treasure she faithfully 
carries, for the sake alike of warmth and 
security, until the hardened leather-like 
substance at the correct time is softened by 
a fluid which she emits, and the young 
larvae emerge ready to play their part in 
making history. Not of the same colour 
as their devoted parent, but of a creamy 
whitish hue. In shape and form they are 
very like the mature insect, but do not 
attain their correct colour and strength 
until they have cast their skins some six 
times. The cockroach is not a native of 
this country, and was originally intro- 
duced from Asia and the Levant, having 
probably made its way hither in the 
cargoes of vessels. Like many other aliens, 
it has found the climatic and possibly 
other conditions suit here, and it has waxed 
fat and prospered. If you have ever 
noticed cockroaches on board ship they 
are often much smaller than those which 
are already naturalised here. In fact the 
