[156] Theatr. Ins. 270. This happened in 1503; which circumstance refutes Southall's opinion that bugs were not known in England before 1670.
[157] Rai. Hist. Ins. 7. Mouffet. 269. They were called also punez, from the French punaise.
[158] Hence our English word Bug-bear. In Matthews's Bible, Ps. xci. 5. is rendered, "Thou shalt not nede to be afraid of any bugs by night." The word in this sense often occurs in Shakespear. Winter's Tale, act iii. sc. 2. 3. Hen. VI. act v. sc. 2. Hamlet, act v. sc. 2. See Douce's Illustrations of Shakespear, i. 329.
[159] The Banian hospital at Surat is a most remarkable institution. At my visit, the hospital contained horses, mules, oxen, sheep, goats, monkeys, poultry, pigeons, and a variety of birds. The most extraordinary ward was that appropriated to rats and mice, bugs, and other noxious vermin. The overseers of the hospital frequently hire beggars from the streets, for a stipulated sum, to pass a night amongst the fleas, lice, and bugs, on the express condition of suffering them to enjoy their feast without molestation. Forbes's Oriental Memoirs.
[160] Nicholson's Journal, xvii. 40.
[161] Proboscis in cutem intrusa acerrimum dolorem excitat, qui tamen brevi cessat. Rai. Hist. Ins. 58.
[162] One took eight drops from Reaumur, iv. 230. Plate VII. Fig. 5.
[163] Bartram's Travels, 383.
[164] i. 127. The West India sand-fly was noticed by the late Robinson Kittoe, Esq., who however did not recollect their fetching blood.