THE FORFICULID^. 



335 



doing some mischief to the brain ; but really the only Hves they 

 ever endanger are those of the plants and pot-herbs in the garden. 

 Their nippers, as they are familiarly called, and their great 

 activity, appear to have given them a bad character ; but they 



EARWIGS. {Forficula auricularia.) 



are much to be admired for some things, for they are amongst 

 the few insects that care for their young, and an old earwig may 

 often be seen acting like an old hen. 



The wings of the earwigs are well worth examining. The 

 anterior wings are short, like those of the Staphylinidcs amongst 

 the beetles, and they do not cross each other as those of the 



