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THE MOSQUITO PEST.

The yew York Herald wails in this fashion over mosquitoes, which appear to be numerous and thirsty just now The mosquitoes seem to he übiquitous just now, if we are to judge from the complaints of our correspondents ; but we really don’t know what to do for these aggrieved persons. We did not create the mosquito, nor do-we know why he was created. But in one respect we recognise the wisdom of Providence, and that is that he is made so small. This is as far as our sinful soul can go in the way of gratitude in regard to the mosquito, and it shows, we think, a religious disposition. The mosquito himself does not aid us in practising the virtues, but, on the contrary, is responsible for much blasphemy, which, it is to he hoped, the Becording Angel will blot out, as lie did Uncle Toby’s oaths, with a tear,, ,In .the silence of the night he comes and makes his statement to the sleeping ear. The little horn is more terrible than the roar of a lion, and when it is heard we groan. Like the voice in “ Macbeth,” it cries “ Sleep no more !” to all in the house. It is then that the trouble begins. We know that slumber is impossible, with wild beatings on the head and face the dreadful conflict begins ; muttered oaths and moans of wretchedness arise from the wounded, and it is no consolation that blood must wipe out the deadly wrong, for whether you get the better of the mosquito or he gets the better of you, you know that it will be your own blood. The mosquito has no blood except what he steals, hut he has an immense capacity for holding it. The Chinese children are said to o-o to °sleep with lamps burning by their beds to attract the mosquitoes from their parents, and the force of filial piety could no further o-o. But this, we fear, is a heathen flam, told to missionaries to induce them to go home, for in such a laud religion would be superfluous. In the United States the children have never paid such respect to their parents, and therefore we have to depend on nets. Sancho Pauza said, “ Blessed be the man who invented sleep,” and it might be translated, “ Blessed be the man who invented mosquito bars,” for the two things are in this climate synonymous. The oidy time a mosquito is really agreable is when he is outside the net and you are inside, and you know it. Then ins buzzing is musical as is Apollo's lute, and in its solemn tones are heard the thanks of millions yet to be. Spencer, in his “Faerie Queen,” might have added the voice of the disgusted m'Squito to the sounds winch lulled Morpheus in his slumbrous cave. Up and down the net he hovers, with his melancholy buzz, seeking vainly an ' entrance to the banquet within. The dish in.this case..defies,the. diner. Now it is the time of the : mosquito to swear, and his curses seund like serenades. The more mosquitoes who join in the chorus—tenors, sopranos, baritones, and basses the more harmonious it seems, and when morning comes, baffled and hungry, the maddened crowd fly to their .bloodless lairs. If there is anything a mosquito hates it is a net. The scientific name of the mosquito is- Oitlcx, and it is a horrible name for a horrible creature. The dictionary tells us “it has tv sharppointed proboseis, by means of which it punctures the skins of animals and sucks their blood, the minute wounds thus made being often attended with swelling and a considerable degree of pain.” The dictionary is quite right, but it is not necessary to go to it to learn these facts. Any man can convince himself of the accuracy of the definition by leaving his net open at night. Our correspondents can profit by the suggestion, and so can C'ulex.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18750319.2.17

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4367, 19 March 1875, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
664

THE MOSQUITO PEST. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4367, 19 March 1875, Page 3

THE MOSQUITO PEST. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4367, 19 March 1875, Page 3

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