CIMEX LECTULARIUS. 165 
teiiibly, and raise large bumps on the 
skin. Is there no way of destroying 
them ? 
Mother, It is difficult to find them^ as 
on the approach of daylight they conceal 
themselves in the joints of the bedstead. 
Turpentine, camphor, and several other 
strong smelling drugs are said to be fatal 
to them, but the eggs are so small, and 
always placed in such safe nooks, that 
they easily escape the effect of these ap- 
plications, and in a short time people it 
afresh. I understand the surest method 
of destroying them is to wash the bed- 
stead with a solution of corrosive subli- 
rjaate, which readily enters the crevices. 
Lucy, Has this species wings ? 
Mother, It is said that they have 
sometimes been found possessed of 
wings ; but fortunately this very rarely 
happens. 
The rostrum or beak of the cimex is 
bent downwards and backwards — anten- 
nae longer than the thorax — wings folded 
