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XXII. Extracts from the Minutr-Boox of the LINNEAN 
Society of Lonpon. 
Dec.6,'T uz Treasurer communicated a letter from the Rev. 
1808. William Bingley, F.L.S., giving an account of his having 
taken Forficula gigantea of Fabricius on the West Beach 
near Christchurch, on the 7th of July last. 
Mr. Bingley states, that as he was walking on the Beach 
just at the close of the evening, he saw two or three large 
insects running along the sand, about or rather below high- 
water mark, and from their size and manner he took them 
to be young Mole Crickets. Surprised at seeing such 
insects in that situation, he examined them as well as the 
light would permit, and, by their immense forceps and 
size, found them to be a species of Forficula hitherto un- 
described as British. He took home some specimens, and 
ascertained them to be the Forficula gigantea of Fabricius. 
From subsequent observations he concludes that these in- 
sects seldom or never quit their hiding-places in the day- 
time. A friend of Mr. Bingley's sought for them afterwards 
in the same place, and found a great number concealed 
under large stones about the sands. Mr. Bingley- some- 
times put three or four together into his box; and the con- 
sequence was, that one of them was frequently devoured 
by the rest. In their habits these insects greatly resem- 
ble the common Earwig; but when approached they turn 
"p 
