334 
NATURAL HISTORY 
It is therefore frequently known by the name of the 
drummer. 
Surinam Bug. (PI. 55.) This genus is divided into 
different sections, the whole number of species being 
above one hundred. The common bed bug has no 
wings; but the field bugs have all wings, and inhabit 
plants as various as their shape and colour. The Sari-, 
nam bug, thus named from Madame Merian, who first 
discovered this frightful insect at Surinam, and figured 
it from the life in her inimitable collection, from which 
our figure is taken, is the largest known species of the 
cimex tribe, measuring three inches and a half from head 
to tail, and six inches in its largest extent. It is of a rich 
brown colour, armed with a single sharp spine on the 
head, and another at the anus: eyes black and very pro- 
minent; two large dark brown spots on the thorax, about 
the size of peas; two others more oblong behind; and 
others of various forms and sizes on the fore legs; the 
elytra are reticuled with white, and are very thick and 
strong; the interior wings are membranaceous, and of a 
delicate straw colour. This is not only the largest, but 
the most destructive and voracious, of the genus, attack- 
ing and devouring, in its creeping state, toads, frogs, 
lizards, aquatic insects, and even fish; and in its winged 
state, preying upon reptiles, birds, and the larger ani- 
mals, and even on the weaker individuals of its own fa- 
mily. 
Mole Cricket. (PI. 55.) This little creature, which 
is a complete representative of the mole, among the in- 
sect tribes, is, for an insect, very large, being two inches 
and a half in length, and three quarters of an inch in 
breadth. Its fore feet are broad, and strong; and in their 
formation and position, bear a great resemblance to the 
fore feet of that animal. They are used for precisely 
the same purpose as those of moles, to burrow under 
the surface of the ground, where the insect commonly 
resides; and so expertly does it use them, that it can pe- 
netrate the earth with even greater expedition than the 
mole. 
The female forms a cell of clammy earth, about the 
