THOSE HORRID EARWIGS 



125 



its two beady-black compound eyes, its round 

 upper lip, its long waving antennae, and its shorter 

 jaw-feelers. Next to the head come the three 

 rings or segments of the body proper (called, 

 technically, the thorax), each ring being here pro- 

 vided with a pair of legs, while the two hinder 

 rings bear also 

 wings or wing- 

 cases. Last of 

 all comes the 

 abdomen, or 

 tail, with its 

 numerous flex- 

 ible rings, of 

 which the male 

 has one more 

 than the female. 

 Notice also the 

 powerful pair of 

 pincers at the 

 extremity of the 

 tail, which are 

 the most con- 

 spicuous organs 

 in the full-grown 

 insect : they are 



more curved in the father of the family than in 

 his faithful spouse, and are likewise provided in 

 his case with curious teeth or indentations. The 

 use and meaning of all these parts will come 

 out in detail as we proceed with our inquiry ; 

 for the present, I will content myself with calling 



NO. 2. PORTRAIT OF A LADY. 



