THE GRASSHOPPER, &C. 387 



stitution, as it always makes choice of the chinks in 

 chimnies forits retreat ; and it is probably owing to hear- 

 ing a sound, without perceiving the animal, that a va- 

 riety of superstitious stories have been raised. 



The mole-cricket is by no means inoffensive, for it 

 burrows in the earth like the animal after which it has 

 been named. The fore-feet are the instruments by 

 which it is enabled to commit its devastations, and 

 burrow several inches under new turned-up ground ; 

 and with the utmost ingenuity it passes through the 

 furrows, devouring every seed that is to be found. 

 Their method of forming their nests is extremely curi- 

 ous ; and the female shows great tenderness in the pre- 

 servation of her young. 



OF THE EARWIG, THE FROTH INSECT, AND OTHERS 

 BELONGING TO THE SECOND CLASS. 



The earwig is a creature so generally known, that a 

 minute description of it could not answer any end ; but 

 the smallness of its figure, and the deformity of its 

 shape, have subjected it to an imputation which it 

 does not deserve ; and the fabulous accounts of its 

 creeping into the ear, and producing the most excru- 

 ciating pain, have long been known to be merely 

 founded upon its name, as the formation of that organ 

 would prevent the effect. 



The earwig is provided with six feet, two feelers, four 

 wings, and a forked tail : it is extremely destructive to 

 vegetables, fruits, and flowers ; and their eggs are gene- 

 rally deposited under the bark of plants, or in the 

 clefts of decayed trees. The wings of this little 

 insect are concealed in a sheath, which adheres so 

 close to its body that it is only by the minutest in- 

 spection they are seen j and, in a short time after they 



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