Hull.
_The Death-Watch_ (Vol. v., p. 537.).--A good account of this small insect
will be found in the second volume of the _Introduction to Entomology_ by
Messrs. Kirby and Spence. A chapter is devoted to the "Noises produced by
Insects."
"In old houses, where these insects abound, they may be heard in warm
weather during the whole day. The noise is produced by raising the
head, and striking the hard mandibles against wood.
"Thus sings the muse of the witty Dean of St. Patrick on the subject:
--------------------'a wood worm[5]
That lies in the old wood, like a hare in her form:
With teeth or with claws it will bite or will scratch,
And chambermaids christen this worm a death-watch:
Because like a watch it always cries click;
Then woe be to those in the house who are sick!
For, sure as a gun, they will give up the ghost,
If the maggot cries click, when it scratches the post;
But a kettle of scalding hot water injected,
Infallibly cures the timber affected:
The omen thus broken, the danger is over,
The maggot will die, and the sick will recover.'"
The kettle of scalding hot water is also very useful in houses infested
with ants or black-beetles.