EUPLEXOPTERA. — FORFICULIDiE 401 



takes place at the extremity of" the leathery patch above mentioned.* 

 This complicated action requires the assistance of other parts of the 

 body; and the abdomen, from its great length, is employed in folding 

 and unfolding the wings. As in the Staphylinidte, from being ex- 

 posed, the upper surface of this part of the body is of as firm a 

 consistence as the under. f This part of the body presents a re- 

 markable modification in the sexes ; being composed, in the males, 

 (^fig. 50. 12.) of nine distinct segments, the last of which is furnished, 

 in addition to the caudal pincers, with an exserted anal apparatus ; 

 the thirteen segments of which the body of an apnulose animal is 

 supposed to be typically composed, being here fully and nearly 

 equally developed ; a circumstance of very rare occurrence in the 

 perfect state. In the female, however, the abdomen (^fig. 50. 13. 

 stretched out) apparently consists but of seven segments ; and it is 

 thus described by Gene, BruUe, Curtis, &c. These segments are of 

 nearly equal size above ; but,^ when seen from beneath, there appear 

 to be only six, unless the insect throws up its tail, the sixth ventral 

 plate being much produced, and concealing a pair of lateral triangular 

 plates, which have the angles brought into contact at the extremity of 

 the body, when at rest, but which, when opened, form the anal 

 passage ; besides this, the pair of large terminal forceps, and a small 

 corneous central appendage, are to be noticed. On distending the 

 abdomen of the female, however, with a view to the discovery of 

 the two lost segments, which exist in the male,, no trace of them can 

 be observed from beneath ; but from above there are to be perceived, 

 at the base of the last, or as it appears the seventh, abdominal 

 segment, two slight transverse impressions ; which, on being observed 

 laterally, are found to terminate in two ventral membranes. It 

 cannot, therefore, be questioned, that these are the traces of the two 

 segments (the seventh and eighth), which, in the males, are as fully 

 developed as any of the others ; but the situation of the spiracles 



* Le mode tout particulicr de structure dc Icursailes, et la maniore dontelles sont 

 plissees, distinguent k's Forficules de tous les autres insectes." (Brulk', Hist. Natl 

 Ins. t. ix. p. 19.) It is upon this character that I proposed for these insects tlie name 

 of Euplexoptera (ey, bene ; Ttxi'/oo, pfico; and WTspov, ala), in the nineteenth number 

 of the Zoo/. Journal (1831.) 



j- In many species, the posterior dorsal margin of the second ami third segments is 

 furnished with a pair of corneous tubercles. In a curious species from IVIanilia (F. 

 tarsata Westw. Proc. Zuol. Soc. ), the abdomen of the male is simple ; but in that of 

 the female the posterior latjral angles of the segmentsare armed with a strong point 

 and the posterior dorsal margin is furnished with a row of small tubercles. 



D r> 



