134 



FLASHLIGHTS ON NATURE 



size of the wings when fully folded, and enables 

 you to understand their true relation to the outer 

 wing-cases. Reverting now to No. 2, the me- 

 chanism is seen once more completely closed up, 

 and the earwig is prepared to crawl about on the 

 ground in its usual sedate and humdrum manner. 



But if, after this, 

 you ever de- 

 spise those hor- 

 rid earwigs, I 

 shall think you 

 have no taste 

 for the wonder- 

 ful in nature. 



Perhaps, how- 

 ever, the most 

 marvellous 

 point in the 

 history of the 

 female earwig 

 is the fact that 

 she sits on her 

 eggs and takes 

 care of her 

 young exactly 

 as a hen does. 



She retires underground to lay her eggs, which she 

 deposits in some safe and convenient cranny 

 usually ready-made for her. She is not herself a 

 good digger, like the mole-cricket, nor has she feet 

 specially adapted for clearing away the soil ; she 

 therefore takes advantage of accidental cracks in 



NO. 9. THE HIND PART FOLDS BENEATH 

 THE FORE. 



