130 THE EARWIG. 



cessary ; its structure however is highly cu- 

 rious, and its natural history well worthy of 

 particular observation. The wings of this 

 insect are remarkably elegant, and are con- 

 voluted beneath their small sheaths in so 

 curious a manner, that they cannot be viewed 

 without admiration : they are very large in 

 proportion to the animal, transparent, and 

 slightly iridiscent. The Earwig flies only 

 by night, and it is not without great diffi- 

 culty that it can be made to expand its wings 

 by day : it is even probable that they would 

 receive injury by any long exposure to the 

 diurnal air ; the animal therefore keeps them 

 completely covered. 



The usual food of the Earwig consists of 

 decayed fruits and other vegetable substances : 

 and it does not seem to be naturally carni- 

 vorous ; though, if kept without proper nou- 

 rishment, it wiU, like many other animals, 

 occasionally attack, and devour even its own 

 species. 



The popular dread in which this insect is 

 held, on a supposition of its sometimes en- 

 tering the cavity of the ear, and piercing 

 the tympanum, is considered by some as 



