THE GIANT EAEWIG. 231 



peculiar one, sufficient courage to capture it, and sufficient dis- 

 crimination to send it to me. It was caught in the afternoon, 

 and I think that it must have been frightened out of its hiding- 

 place by a little boy who was digging in the sand and getting 

 into mischief, after the custom of children on the sea-shore. 



By some entomologists this insect is placed in a separate 

 genus on account of its antennae, which have more than twice 

 as many joints as those of the common species. The name 

 Labidura is composed of two Grreek words, signifying ' pincer- 

 tail,' and is a very appropriate one, the forceps being of very 

 great proportionate size. The name Forjicula, which is given 

 to the common species, is Latin, and signifies ' little forceps.' 



As this instrument is so important, both in the economy of the 

 insect and in deciding the species, the forceps of the two species 

 which have been described are given on Woodcut XXV. At 

 Fig. a is shown the forceps of the male Griant Earwig, and at 

 Fig. b those of the female. Similarly, the forceps of the male 

 Common Earwig are shown at Fig. c, and those of the female 

 at d. 



