4 MANDIBULATA. DEllMAl'TBRA. 



The only family of this order is the present ; the insects of which 

 it consists are very lively and active ; the larva and pupa resembling 

 the imago, excepting that they have only the rudiments of wings, 

 and the anal appendages are less produced ; the eggs are white and 

 shining, and are deposited in dung-hills, under clods of earth, &c., 

 and the parent is said to attend them with great care until hatched, 

 when she equally superintends the young larvae. 



The following genera have been distinguished, which may be 

 known by the subjoined concise characters: — 



Tarn articulo ^bifido: antenruB anicuWs 12 — 14; Alati : 1. Forficula. 



intermedio J ^P'"' ^ 2. Cheliduka. 



lio \ 



simplice : antenna articulis | ^^ . "i • • / t ^^^^ 

 ^ 1 20 aut plurimis : 4. Lauidura. 



Genus I. FORFICULA Auctor 



um. 



Antennas moderate, consisting of from thirteen to fifteen jointSj of which the 

 basal one is somewhat robust, but attenuated towards the base, second very 

 short, third nearly as long again as the second, fourth of the same length as 

 the second, the remainder slender, elongate-cylindric, the terminal one 

 being obtuse. Palpi moderate, rather slender, the terminal joint a little 

 attenuated towards the apex, which is truncate; head somewhat triangular; 

 thorax truncate anteriorly, with the angles nearly straight, or rounded 

 posteriorly; body glabrous; wings ample; abdomen in the males with the 

 caudal appendage curved and acuminate at the apex, the base dentate 

 within ; in the female nearly straight, and slightly crenulated within ; tarsi 

 with the intermediate joint bilobed. 



The insects of this genus, known by the familiar name of earwigs, 

 from their supposed propensity to penetrate into the ear, arising 

 simply from their endeavour to secrete themselves from the light, 

 when accidentally disturbed and falling upon the human head, are 

 extremely vivacious and nimble, but, at least in this country, rarely 

 employ their beautiful wings in flight : they differ from the other 

 genera by having the intermediate joint of the tarsi bilobed, from 

 bearing wings, and in the relative number of articulations of the 

 antennse ; but from the extreme liability of these organs to fracture, 

 owing to the nimbleness of the insects, some of the terminal joints 

 are frequently wanting during the life of the animal. 



Sp. 1. auricularia. Pi.ate xxviii. /. 1. forceps. — Rufo-picea, elytris pallidio- 

 rihus, pedibus ihoracisque marginilms pallide testaceis, capiie ferrugineo antice 

 nigricanti, forcipe brevi, semicircidari, tesiacea apice nigricanti Jcemine 

 subrectu. (Long. corp. 0" — 8J liii.) 



