TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 145 



" These belong to the order Orthoptera," said Le*on ; 

 " the only one we have not discussed. They are in- 

 jurious and destructive creatures, both those that run, 

 like the Blattae, Mantides, and Forficulae (earwigs), 

 and those that leap, as the grasshoppers, the locusts, 

 the crickets, and the mole-crickets." 



" How, then ! Is the familiar cricket an injurious 

 creature ? If so, there is another belief the less, and 

 Lamartine was not correct when he wrote the verse 

 that you no doubt are acquainted with 



" ' Solitary cricket, 



A voice from underground, 

 Arouse thyself and sing 

 A song for me.'* ' 



"As we are speaking of Orthoptera, can you tell 

 me if earwigs really have the habit popularly attributed 

 to them of entering the ears of people and making 

 their lodging there ? " 



" Certainly not ; they have never been known to do 

 such a thing. It is a mistake that is probably con- 

 nected with their name. This is perhaps derived from 

 the form of the appendages that terminate the body, or 

 from the shape of the wings when they are unfolded. 

 Their pincers are said to somewhat resemble in form 

 the instrument that jewellers formerly made use of 



* " Grillon solitaire, 



Voix qui sors de terre, 

 Ah! reveille-toi 

 Pour moi." 



