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THE EARWIG, THE FROTH INSECT, AND SOME 



pTHERS. 



OF all tliisclafs of infects, the Earwig undergoes the fmallefl change. 

 This animal is fo common it fcarce needs a defcription : its fwift- 

 ncis in the reptile ftate is not lefs remarkable than its indefatigable velo- 

 city when on the wing. That it is very prolific appears from its num- 

 bers J it is harmlefs. It is provided widi fix feet, and two feelers : the 

 tail is forked, and with this it often attempts to defend itfelf againfl: al- 

 failants ; but its attempts no way ferve to defend it. The deformity of 

 its (lender figure has fubjevfted it to an imputation which has more than 

 once proved its deftruflion. Theie reproaches are groundiefs. Ic lives 

 am.ong flowers, and deftroys them. When fruit has been wounded by 

 flies, the earwig generally comes in for a fecond feaft, and fucks thofe 

 juices they began to broach. 



The earwig is hatched from an egg. There are various kinds of this 

 animal, which chufe different places to breed in j in general, under the 

 bark of plants, or in the clefts of trees beginning to decay. They proceed 

 from the egg in that reptile ftate in which ihey are mod commonly feen ; 

 as they grow larger, the wings under the fkin begin to burgeon. It is 

 amazing how very little room four large wings take up before they are 

 protruded : their (heath folds and covers them fo neatly, that the animal 

 feems without wings 9 and, when burft from confinement, they can be 

 clofely folded into a very narrow compafs. When the earwig has become 

 winged, it flies in purfuitof the femiale, which is its whole bufinefs. Ic 

 lives, in its winged ftate, but a few days; and having provided pofteri- 

 ty, dries up and dies. 



To this order of infects we may refer the Cuckow-Spit or Froth- 

 Worm, that is often found hid in a frothy matter on the furface of plants. 

 It has an oblong, obtufe body ; a large head, with fmall eyes ; four 

 wings, the external dufky brown, marked with two white fpots; the 

 head black. The fpume in which it wallows is its own formation, and 

 refembles frothy fpittle. It proceeds from the vent and other parts of the 

 animal ; if wiped away, a new quantity will quickly fucceed. Within this 

 fpume it acquires four tubercles on its back, wherein are the wings ; 

 thefe burftingj it becomes winged, flies to meet its mate, and prolong. 

 its kind. 



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