CRICKETS AND EARWIGS 169 



attacks; and it is hardly surprising, therefore, that 

 in such a case the maturation of the parasite should 

 be delayed till much later in the life of the host, and 

 that the latter should thus be able to reach maturity in 

 safety. As a factor in the perpetuation of its race, 

 however, it would probably be just as devoid of influence 

 as if it had died in pupahood, as the parasite would 

 probably subsist at the expense of its reproductive 

 organs, and thus render it barren. The exit of the 

 parasite, under such circumstances, would be an inte- 

 resting event to witness, and one would be glad to know 

 the precise point at which it escapes, as well as the 

 means by which it bursts through, for the skin of the 

 perfect earwig is much harder and tougher than it is 

 during the larval and pupal stages, and the parasite is 

 therefore much more effectually imprisoned. Besides 

 these insect parasites, a Filaria, or threadworm, has 

 been discovered infesting the common earwig, as well as 

 a Gregarina, a creature of much simpler organisation 

 even than the threadworm. 



The systematic position of earwigs has been a matter 

 of considerable controversy. They constitute a very 

 compact family the Forficulidce and were placed by 

 Linne in the order Coleoptera, or Beetles. In some 

 respects they certainly do exhibit a tolerably close 

 resemblance to one particular group of this order, viz., 

 the rove-beetles, a set of carrion and dung-feeders which 

 are technically called Braclielytra. These are beetles of 

 narrow elongate body, with very short wing- covers, so 

 that the greater part of the abdomen is exposed, instead 

 of being, as is generally the case, concealed beneath the 

 over-arching elytra, or wing-covers. It was this small 

 size of the flying apparatus which suggested the name 

 of the group, Brachelytra being Greek for " short 



