surrounds their head, and is lost at the eyes." It is afterwards added, that "The Mohammedans believe some mysterious meaning is contained in the lines upon the locust's forehead." I confess that I do not understand about this mystery in the forehead of the locust. Perhaps it is only found in the green locust, of which I do not know so much as of the others. I know, however, that Mohammedans think that the fine fibres in the wings of the locust form an Arabic sentence, which may be thus translated:"We are the army of the mighty God. We have each ninety-and-nine eggs; and had we but the hundredth, we would consume the world and all that it contains."

F. Is that true?

U. O. Surely not. Yet, in the style of the people of the East, it very well describes the feeling with which they regard the locust.

Next to the locust, I know of no insect in Persia more annoying than a sort of bug, which the natives call mulla, but which Europeans call the bug of Mianeh, which is the name of the town in which it is chiefly found. It is rather larger than the common bug, and is of a grey colour, inclining to black; and its back is covered with small red points, which can scarcely be distinguished, on

account of their great number. It is hairy under the body and between the legs. Its bite is believed to be poisonous to strangers, although it does no more harm to the inhabitants than the bite of a common bug would to us.

me.

H. Do you believe that?

U. O. I scarcely know how to answer you. I have spent two days and nights in the town, but none of my party were molested by the bug; yet, on the other hand, I have heard accounts of the mischief it has done from persons who knew the place well, and were incapable of deceiving It is said that its bite at first produces a small black spot, with a lump under it, which is soon followed by disease and delirium; and, in the end, death. Sometimes, however, the person does not die until six weeks or two months after the bite, though he seldom outlives twenty-four hours. These bugs are only found in walls, and their numbers are greater and venom stronger in proportion to the age of the building. They do not usually make their appearance by daylight; and it is said that they will not do so by night if a lamp is kept burning in the room. These bugs have long existed in Mianeh, and have gradually spread from thence to the neighbour

ing villages, where, however, they are said not to be so venomous as in Mianeh itself. I suppose the reason why they have not spread to other parts of the country is, that the insects do not harbour in clothes, and are therefore not likely to be taken from thence to other places. This is the best account I can give you of the mulla; and although I am not convinced that all I have told you is true, I think there must be some truth in what is told by so many people, both natives and strangers.

H. If you thought it might be true, I wonder people are not afraid to stay there.

U. O. So they are; and so I should have been if I had believed it so much then as I do now I was lodged in a new house, which may be a reason why the mulla did not molest me. Another place in the north of Persia, called Tuderwar, is also noted for a horrible bug, which the people call Sheb-gez, or "the night-walker." It does not kill people; but its bite inflicts a shocking wound, which throws the sufferers into a fever, and they are not cured until about a month after they are bitten.

H. What terrible bugs they have in that country!

U. Q. But all the bugs of the country are not terrible; nor are these so very terrible, after all; for if they were so, you may be sure that the people would not live where they are found, but would remove somewhere else.

Now that I am mentioning venomous reptiles, I must not forget to tell that tarantulas are very numerous in Persia.

you

F. What is a tarantula?

U. O. A large species of spider, called tarantula from the town of Tarentum in Italy, where also they are found in great numbers, and do some mischief.

F. I never heard before that any sort of spider

was venomous.

U.O. I really think that most spiders are more or less venomous, although only the tarantula has the venom in such strength or abundance as to do harm to man. As you do not seem to know anything about the tarantula, I will tell you something of its habits.

As it is not able to bear cold or rain, it digs itself a cave. This is usually on the side of a hill, and then it works its cave upwards, so that all the water, in rainy seasons, flows over it without entering the burrow. Sometimes, how

ever, it makes its cave in a plain or valley; but then it chooses a dry, and commonly a chalky soil, and makes its burrow in several winding passages. If all its care cannot prevent the wet from entering its dwelling, it leaves the floor, and clings to the top by its claws. The tarantula preys on small insects. It seldom appears by day, but seeks for its prey after sunset. One of its methods in seizing its victims is rather remarkable. It lies in wait at the entrance of its cave, with its head and fore-feet a little out, so that it can see around, and at the same time be in readiness for a sudden spring. It remains thus till some unhappy insect comes within reach, when the tarantula pounces upon it, and destroys it in a moment. It then takes the prey into the cave to devour it at leisure, after which it returns to lie in wait for more.

Tarantulas are said to be venomous only in the warmest part of the summer, when they are very mischievous, and have a disposition to attack everything that comes in their way. The wound they make is not properly a bite or a sting. They pierce the flesh with their forceps, and at the same instant throw the poison into the wound from their mouths. When a person