TWO STRANGE EAKWTGS. 279 



notice. The first of these is new to science, and I have given 

 it the name of Forficula Petropolis, in honour of the spot 

 where it was taken. This is really a curious insect. In colour 

 it resembles our ordinary Earwig, except that the antennas have 

 a white portion near the end, and the tibiae are light yellow. 

 The wings are large, and pro- 

 ject considerably from beneath 

 the elytra, unlike those of our 

 British species — in which the 

 only projecting point is the 

 end of the principal hinge by 

 means of which the wing is 



„ , Fig. 13S. — Forficula Petropolis. New species. 



IOlCleCl. (Reddish brown, with yellow legs.) 



The forceps, by means of 

 which the wings are packed under the elytra (and, as some 

 naturalists say, unpacked), are strangely constructed. They are 

 very powerful in comparison with the size of the insect, and, 

 instead of being rounded on the outside edges, are boldly 

 elbowed. They have also a bold tooth near the base, and the 

 tip is widened, flattened, and scooped so as to form a pair of 

 teeth on each side. 



The strangest part of the structure, however, lies in the abdo- 

 men. This is very wide, much flattened, and the third and two 

 following segments project on either side, so as to form three 

 distinct teeth, slightly curved, and sharp at their tips, like those 

 of a circular saw. This very curious inse.ct was captured in 

 1857 by Mr. H. Clark, at Petropolis, in South America. 



The remarkable insect which is shown in the illustration 

 on page 280 is, like the preceding species, a native of South 

 America. It was captured by Mr. Janson, at Choritales, a place 

 in Nicaragua. In some respects this insect reminds the English 

 entomologist of our Giant Earwig {Forficesila gigantea), which 

 was formerly one of our rarest insects, only one specimen having 

 been known for many years. Unlike that insect, it is paler in 

 colour than the generality of Earwigs. This species is nearly 

 black ; but in both insects the forceps of the male are of very 

 great proportionate length. As in the Giant Earwig the forceps 

 of the female are comparatively small, we may suppose that the 

 same is the case with the present species. 



