The evening times., 1899-07-17

Following in the wake of the kissing
ington, and from the Capital spread
throughout the Eastern part of the eoun- 4
try, comes the so-ealled strangling bug.
Some Washngtonians1 aver: that specimens
OF this curious insect have been seen here,
although no specific cases OF its having at
tackled man or beast Iare brought forward
to substantiate the claim of its presence.
Philadelphia, however, makes the asser-
tion that the stranglirg bug is in evidence
In the Quaker City, and not only that it
has been seen, but that it attacked large
dog in Haddington, the other night.
The strangling bug. which, according to
accounts, seems for ferocious even than
the kissing insect, is said to strongly re-
| semble the terror which is known in tropi-
cal countries by that name 1t is believed
that the insect has been introduced into
this country, According to a statement
from Philadelphia. an old African explorer.
who witnessed the attack on the dog al
! ready mentioned, and subsequently exam
| ined the insect. identified 1t as belonging
to the strangling species
The strangling bug made it's ap-
| pearance, according TO despatch
from the Quaker City, on Thurs
| day night in Haddington. Robert
Taylor, a weilknown resident Of that sec
ton. was chatting with several friends on
the porch of his home Amcng the group
was Norwood Todd, who has travelled ex-
/ tensively, spending many years in Africa
| Norwood Todd was with Livingstone on
his tours of the Dark Continent and tray-
eled the wilds of the African forests for
several years after the famous explorers
death Todds home is in New York city,
| and he is staying several days with friends
in Philadelphia.
/ With Robert Taylor and Tcdd were Fred
| erick Shorthand and Edward McAleer. The
/ party were smoking as they chatted their
feet elevated on the porch rail, when Tay-
lor noticed his dog. Prince, struggling with
! something in the front yard. For a mo-
ment the dog fought. then bowling piteous-
| ly he ran wildly about the yard The men
ran TO the beasts assistance. Taylor struck
match and the light revealed a large
! brown insect, his claws locked over the
| deg s throat. The men enieavored 10 tear
/ the insect OF, but he clung tsnaciously to
| MS prey More matches were struck Bend
ing over the prostrate dog Frederick
| Shorthand held light near the strange in
| sect Before Shorthand could dodge the
40 4SANeSSi 4A1S tdI4iuS SiCllEl anu udS0S0
! at the throat CT the man. Strong fangs
| clutehed the mans neck. With q veil OF
| pain he grasped the insect and tore it
| away The bug lay On the ground stunned
! and the ether men stamped upon it. Then
| the four took an inventory of injuries
| To livid red spots marked Shortland's
throat.
The explorer vouchsafed an explanation
for mis- actions. When | saw the insect. :"
he said. 4 recognized him Immediately as
ihe stransiing bug. one OF the mc=t dan
gerous of the many insects which in
| fest Africa Todd examined the insect
more closely and confirmed his impression
OF the bugs identity. The African in
| sect, he said. is darker in Co!oc and has
stronger claws. This bug bears all the
marks Of the other, has the same heavy
body and wings, the same pointed bill
with which ii sucks the blood OF its vic
| tim. The, characteristic tendency, its
light for the throat of its prey is very
marked and the bug undoubtedly belongs
| 10 the same species. In Northern Africa
the insects live in swarms When a
swarm attacks a herd of cattle there is
stampede. The cattle flee in terror from
the insects. The bug attacks the animal 5
| throat, sucking his blood until filled. when
it drops of. The bite rarely effects larger
| animals, though the smaller mammalia are
| frequently killed by the insects sting"
| Todds identification OF the insect NAV
| be taken as having some weight as he has
travelled extensively and is widely known.
| says the despatch from Philadelphia
| The insect which attacked Mr. Tay, ,or's
| dog, Prince, resembles closely the exp or
| er's description OF the "stra1sling bug"
, a brown tough body about two and a half
| inches long bears strong wings and the
| bug is armed with a long pair of pointel
claws A short thick sucker corlrIates
| the insects wariike equipment. Prince,
| the big English shepherd dog who was bit
! ten by the bug. has two c!ots Of bIooI
where the insect clung but apparently
| does not suffer from his injury MI
Shorthand says he experiences no pain,
and two tiny marks Oh the throat are the
| only evidences of his adventure