ORTHOPTERA 191 



and adult. Most of the Orthoptera cast their skin at certain 

 periods of their growth. Some of the insects moult three times 

 successively, and still resemble the creature that first came from 

 the egg ; a fourth moult takes place, and then the rudiments of 

 wings may be visible ; a fifth and final moult leaves the insect with 

 perfectly developed wings. Those Orthoptera in which the organs 

 of flight are not developed only cast their skins three times before 

 reaching the adult stage, while those with rudimentary wings 

 undergo four moults. 



Everybody is more or less familiar with the general appearance 

 of the Earwigs, so that it is hardly necessary to give a detailed 

 description of them here. But, although the Earwig is such a 

 common and familiar insect, few people who are not entomologists 

 know that this active little insect, with its slender antennas and 

 forbidding-looking abdominal pincers, is possessed of a pair of 

 beautiful, gauzy wings which are folded away beneath the short, 

 small, leathery front wings. These transparent, membranous 

 wings are ear-shaped, and reflect the light with a pretty iridescence, 

 so that " Ear- wing " is really the name by which the little insect 

 should be called. Opinions are rather conflicting regarding the 

 habits of the Earwig, and it is very difficult to say whether there 

 is any truth in the popular idea that the insect creeps into the 

 ear of a sleeping person and may cause injury to the brain. There 

 does not appear to be any authenticated record of this having 

 happened, and yet it is a widespread belief, the insect being called 

 Ohren-wurm in Germany and perce-oreille in France. 



Again, the Earwig has been credited with displaying great solici- 

 tude for its young, probably on the statement made by De Geer 

 in 1773, which has been quoted by many authors, yet the recent 

 observations of Camerano do not altogether confirm this theory, 

 for although he describes the female as collecting her scattered 

 eggs with care, placing them in a little heap and brooding over 

 them, she evinced no interest in the young when they had emerged. 



The Cockroaches, the so-called " Blackbeetles," that often swarm 

 in the kitchens and basements of old London houses, on ships, and 

 in seaport towns, are unpleasant and destructive insects. Their 

 long antennae and spiny legs, their bloated, flat, brownish-black 

 bodies, fetid smell, and sudden swift movements make them very 

 " creepy " and unpleasant insects. Omnivorous in their diet, 



