THE EARWIG, &c. 



483 



first sight be supposed. The shield of the 

 breast is of a firm texture, of a blackish col- 

 our, and hairy. The fore-feet, which are this 

 animal's principal instruments of burrowing in 

 the earth, are strong, webbed, and hairy ; it 

 generally, however, runs backward; but it is 

 commonly under ground, where it burrows 

 even faster than a mole. It is thought also to 

 be amphibious, and capable of living under 

 water, as well as under ground. 



Of all insects this is the most detested by 

 gardeners, as it chiefly resides in that ground 

 which lies light, and where it finds sufficient 

 plenty under the surface. Thus, in a single 

 night's time, it will run along a furrow, which 

 lias been newly sown, and rob it of all its con- 

 tents. Its legs are formed in such a manner 

 that it can penetrate the earth in every direc- 

 tion ; before, behind, and above it. At night 

 it ventures from its under-ground habitation, 

 and, like the cricket, has its chirping call. 

 When the female is fecundated, she makes a 

 cell of clammy earth, the inside of which is 

 large enough to hold two hazel-nuts ; and in 

 this she lays her eggs. The whole nest is 

 about the size of a common hen's egg, closed 

 up on every side, and well defended from the 

 smallest breath of air. The eggs generally 

 amount to the number of a hundred and fifty, 

 being white, and about the size of a caraway 

 comfort. They are thus carefully covered, as 

 well to defend them from the injuries of the 

 weather, as from the attacks of the black- 

 beetle ; that being itself an under-ground in- 

 habitant, would, but for this precaution, de- 

 vour or destroy them. To prevent this, the 

 female mole-cricket is often posted as a senti- 

 nel near the nest ; and when the black inva- 

 der plunges in to seize its prey, the guardian 

 insect seizes him behind, and instantly bites 

 him in two. 1 



Nothing can exceed the care and assiduity 

 which these animals exhibit in the preserva- 

 tion of their young. Wherever the nest is 

 placed,there seems to be a fortification, avenues, 

 and entrenchments drawn round it: there are 

 numberless winding-ways that lead to it, and 

 a ditch drawn about it, which few of its insect 

 enemies are able to pass. But their care is 

 not confined to this only ; for at the approach 

 of winter they carry their nest entirely away, 

 and sink it deeper in the ground, so that the 

 frost can have no influence in retarding the 



1 Among this tribe may be numbered the great Lan- 

 tern Fly of Peru, an insect the most splendid and lumi- 

 nous of all that are yet known. In the head is contained 

 a phosphorescent light, sufficiently vivid to serve the 

 purposes of a candle in a dark room; or, when two or 

 three are put together at the end of a stick, to light tra- 

 vellers on the road like a lantern. It is about the size of 

 a larger kind of locust, and the wings and whole body are 

 beautifully variegated. 



young brood from coming to maturity. As 

 the weather grows milder, they raise their 

 magazine in proportion ; till, at last, they 

 bring it as near the surface as they can, to 

 receive the genial influence of the sun, with- 

 out, wholly exposing it to view ; yet should the 

 frost unexpectedly return, they sink it again 

 as before. 



CHAP. V. 



OF THE EARWIG, THE FROTH INSECT, AND 



SOME OTHERS BELONGING TO THE 



SECOND ORDER OF INSECTS. 



WE should still keep in memory, that all 

 insects, of the second order, though not pro- 

 duced quite perfect from the egg, yet want 

 very little of their perfection, and require but 

 a very small change to arrive at that state 

 which fits them for flight and generation. The 

 natural functions in these are never suspended: 

 from the instant they leave the egg, they con- 

 tinue to eat, to move, to leap, and pursue their 

 prey : a slight change ensues ; a skin, that in- 

 closed a part of their body and limbs, bursts 

 behind, like a woman's stays, and gives free- 

 dom to a set of wings, with which the animal 

 expatiates, and flies in pursuit of its mate. 



Of all this class of insects, the earwig 2 un- 

 dergoes the smallest change. This animal is 

 so common, that it scarce needs a description : 

 its swiftness in the reptile state is not less re- 

 markable than its indefatigable velocity when 

 upon the wing. That it must be very prolific, 

 appears from its numbers ; and that it is very 

 harmless, every one's experience can readily 

 testify. It is provided with six feet, and two 

 feelers ; the tail is forked ; and with this it 

 often attempts to defend itself against every 



2 The Earwig, The name of this insect, in almost 

 all European languages, has given it a character which 

 causes a feeling of alarm even at the sight of it. Whe- 

 ther or not they ever did enter the human ear is doubtful, 

 that they might endeavour to do so, under the influ- 

 ence of fear, is more than probable ; and this, perhaps, 

 has been the origin of their name, and the universal pre- 

 judice against them. As it is said that anatomists deny 

 the possibility of their deep or dangerous entrance info 

 the ear, it is a pity that this is not generally known, as 

 it might defend the constitutionally timid from unneces- 

 sary alarm, and give a more favourable idea of a part of 

 animal creation, which forms a most necessary link in the 

 chain of being. Brande's Journal. 



The great dread of the Ear-wig entering (he ear is a 

 popular error, whence, indeed, the animal derives its 

 trivial name. Like many other insects, it enters any 

 cavity in search of food or shelter ; and it may, like them, 

 enter the human ear as well as any other hole or hollow, 

 but that it has a special predilection for that situation is 

 a mistaken notion respecting the habits of the Forficula. 

 " Miscellaneous Memoranda' in Notes on Nets, by the 

 Hon. and Rev. C. Bathurst. 



