172 THE FORFICULINA. 



these organs and the elytra are often wanting in the 

 female^ and sometimes in both sexes. Thus the males 

 of the common Cockroach are furnished with wings 

 and elytra^ which do not reach beyond the middle of 

 the abdomen; whilst in the female these organs are 

 represented by a pair of small scales attached to the 

 sides of the back just behind the prothorax. The body 

 is of an ovate form, and the apex of the abdomen is 

 furnished with a pair of short, jointed appendages. 



Although the Cockroaches are an exceedingly 

 numerous race in the warmer parts of the world, our 

 British species are very few, and even of these some 

 have undoubtedly been introduced by commerce. 

 The common species just referred to is in this case, 

 and it seems most probable that a small pale-brown 

 species, the Blatta germanica, which is also found 

 about houses, is likewise an introduced species. It is, 

 however, often met with upon trees in woods. The 

 other British species are also found out of doors, but 

 they appear to be rather local in their distribution. 

 Like the Kitchen Cockroach, they are active in their 

 movements, and run with great swiftness, but they 

 are also endowed with large wings, which enable them 

 to fly with facility. 



If the Cockroach be deserving of the dislike with 

 which it is commonly regarded, the Earwig, on the 

 other hand, is most certainly loaded with a great deal 

 of unmerited obloquy. He is often accused of a most 

 deadly crime, which it would be utterly impossible 

 for him to commit, that of creeping into the ears of 

 persons sleeping in the open air, and thus passing 

 into the brain, causing great inconvenience, and 



