THE GREAT EARWIG. 63 



been established near Christchurch Head, and may perhaps be 

 now spreading along the bay. 



As regards the description of this insect, adult specimens measure 

 in length about 12 lines; the forceps are long, and straighter 

 than those of the common earwig, especially those of the female, 

 which are minutely toothed on the inner side. Those of the 

 male are more curved towards the tips, and have each a pro- 

 minent tooth about a third of the length from the apex. The 

 accompanying figures show the forceps of the male and female, as 

 compared with those of Forficula auricularia. The antennae, as 

 before stated, number 24 or 25 joints ; the colour of the adult is 

 of much the same shade as that of the common earwig, but the 

 thorax and wing-cases are lighter in colour, with a dark longi- 

 tudinal streak on each side of the former and another on each 

 wing-case. Like the common species, Labidura appears to be 

 hidden as much as possible in the daytime, probably in 

 chinks and crannies of the cliffs, and only emerges to seek its 

 food at the approach of evening, its aliment probably being the 

 various small animals, molluscous and otherwise, that are left on 

 the shore by the tide. 



