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XXII, Extracts from the Minute-Book of the Linnean 

 Society of London. 



Dec. 6, The Treasurer communicated a letter from the Rev. 

 1808. William Bingley, F.L.S., giving an account of his having 

 taken Forficula gigantea of Fabricius on the West Beach 

 near Christchurch, on the 7th of July last. 



Mr. Bingley states, that as he was walking on the Beach 

 just at the close of the evening, he saw two or three large 

 insects running along the sand, about or rather below high- 

 water mark, and from their size and manner he took them 

 to be young Mole Crickets. Surprised at seeing such 

 insects in that situation, he examined them as well as the 

 light would permit, and, by their inmiense forceps and 

 size, found them to be a species of Forficula hitherto un- 

 <Jescribed as British. He took home some specimens, and 

 ascertained them lo be the Forficula gigantea of Fabricius. 

 From subsequent observations he concludes that these in- 

 sects seldom or never quit their hiding-places in the day- 

 time. A friend of Mr. 1 jingley's sought for them afterwards 

 in the same place, and found a great number concealed 

 under large stones about the sands. Mr. Bingley some- 

 times put three or four together into his box ; and the con- 

 sequence was, that one of them was frequently devoured 

 by the rest. In their habits these insects greatly resem- 

 ble the common Earwig; but when approached they turn 



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