INTRODUCTION. 15' 



under stones, crawling in shallow galleries or chinks. Green 

 noticed a curious habit in Diplatys ; on lifting a stone, this 

 creature is usually found back downwards, clinging to the stone 

 itself. Other earwigs are generally found resting on the ground 

 beneath the stone. Apterous, alpine forms are generally found 

 under stones, or under dead leaves, bark of trees or other rubbish. 

 They occur up to an elevation of 8000 ft. in the Alps. In the 

 Himalayas, ear\vigs are common up to a considerable elevation, 

 but information as to the limits of their vertical distribution is 

 lacking. 



Although nocturnal in habits, earwigs, like moths, are attracted 

 to light, and Mr. Green has taken a good number of species in his 

 bungalow in this manner. 



No earwigs are truly aquatic, but species of Forci^mla are known 

 to frequent moist places. Dr. Annandale found F. decoJyi at 

 Kurseoug, under stones at the edges of mountain streams, prac- 

 tically in the water. When forced towards the stream, they swam 

 rapidly on the surface, but they did not enter the water of their 

 own accord. Dr. Annandale, referring to Lahidura rij^ciria, Pall., 

 yar. inermis, Br., writes as follows': — 



" By far the commonest species in Calcutta. They lie in 

 crevices such as those in the bark of trees, and when a small cock- 

 roach or other suitable insect passes them, the abdomen is rapidly 

 shot out sideways and the forceps seize the insect by means of a 

 sudden twist. The prey is transferred to the mouth, sometimes 

 being held also by the forceps ; but should the earwig be disturbed, 

 it runs away carrying the prey in the latter. If one individual 

 comes upon another which is feeding, the former often attempts 

 to steal the food. The rightful owner then threatens the other by 

 directing its forceps towards the aggressor over its back ; but I 

 have never seen one earwig nip another, nor have I been able to 

 induce one to nip my finger." 



Of an allied species, L. lividipes, Dr. Annandale writes the 

 following note ^ : — 



" These little earwigs frequently come to light singly or in 

 small numbers during the hot \Aeather and the rains, and speci- 

 mens can generally be taken round the arc lamps in the public 

 gardens in Calcutta at this time of the year, the two forms 

 occurring together. Large numbers were noted round an oil lamp 

 in the Museum compound on the evening of June IGth, after a 

 wet and stormy day, the first of the monsoon. Several persons 

 have told me that they saw enormous numbers of small earwigs 

 round their lamps on the same evening in dilierent parts of 

 Calcutta. On the pi*eceding and following evenings only a few 

 individuals were seen." 



' Burr, (06) p. 388. 



2 Annandale, (06) p. 391. 



