INSECT INTRUDERS. 



Curious are the superstitions which 

 have become attached to insects and 

 surely amongst the most curious is that 

 which attaches to the Earwig, the insect 

 so commonly associated with the dahlia 

 at home. It has been hated throughout 

 generations and credited throughout 

 generations with climbing up into the 

 human ear, living there and producing 

 deafness. How the superstition ever 

 arose it is difficult to imagine, since it 

 is probable that the wax in the ear is 

 a sufficient protection for it and would 

 soon suffocate an insect ; for the latter 

 breathes through openings situated down 

 each side of the body and these would 

 soon become clogged up. 



The most wonderful part of the earwig 

 is the marvellous manner in which the 

 under wings, which are ear-shaped, are 

 folded up. The upper ones are quite 

 short and scale-like in these insects, and 

 consequently the under ones have to be 

 ']) fjL 5L most complexly folded beneath them. 



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