24 
MOSQUITOES. 
the lizards — a sort of glee from the inhabitants 
of the trees, bushes, and hedges. 
Like all new-comers, I am tormented by mos- 
quitoes. No precaution is absolute protection 
from this pestering little foe. One wishes he 
were more tangible, that he might be eombated ; 
but so cleverly does he accomplish his cruel per- 
secution that he is soaring off, buzzing his tri- 
umph, before one begins to feel the tickling 
'which is but the precursor of days of irritation 
from his little puncture. A lady advises me 
never to retire without a candle (to search for 
him), a towel (to slay him), and a bottle of eau 
de Cologne (to allay his annoying 'wounds) ; but 
despite such precautions he will sting the hand 
raised to annihilate him, even while you are 
watching for him to flit past. Death has been 
known to ensue from a mosquito's bite. A 
Mend related to me that on first coming to 
the Dutch Indies she all but lost her foot 
through one. Bhe was writing, and, intent on 
her occupation, did not notice that she had 
been scratching an inflamed bite with her shoe. 
Shortly the foot commenced to swell, and soon 
presented such an appearance as to cause her 
great alarm. From this wound she was confined 
to her sofa for a month, and it was for some 
