490 THE COMMON EARWIG. 



A box of fresQ earth : they did not enter the earth, but it was pleasing 

 to observe how they thrust themselves under the belly, and between 

 the legs of the mother, who remained very quiet, and suffered them 

 to continue there sometimes for an hour or two together. To feed 

 them this gentleman gave them a piece of a very ripe apple: in an 

 instant the old one ran upon it, and ate with a good appetite; the 

 young-ones also seemed to eat a little, but apparently with much le s 

 relish. 



The Earwig, though in its nature extremely harmless, except to 

 fruits and vegetables in our gardens, has become a victim to human 

 cruelty and caprice, originating in a notion that it introduces itself 

 into the ears, and thence penetrates to the brain, and occasions death. 

 It is to be wished that females, who but too commonly lay aside all 

 ideas of tenderness at the very sight of it, would be convinced that 

 the wax and membranes of the ears, are a sufficient defence against 

 all the pretended attacks of the Earwig upon this organ. 



Our gardeners have, it is true, some room for complaint. It lives 

 among flowers and frequently destroys them; and, when fruit has 

 been wounded by flies, the Earwigs also generally come in for a share. 

 In the night they may occasionally be seen in amazing numbers upon 

 lettuces and other esculent vegetables, committing those depredations 

 that are often ascribed to snails or slugs. The best mode, therefore, 

 of destroying them, seems to be, to attend the garden now and then 

 in the night, and to seize them while they are feeding. 



The bowl of a tobacco-pipe, and the claws of lobsters stuck upon 

 sticks that support flowers, are the usual methods by which they are 

 caught, as, in the day-time, they creep into holes and dark places. 

 Placing hollow reeds behind the twigs of wall-trees, is also a good 

 mode, if they be examined and cleared every morning. But at a 

 midnight visit more may be done in an hour, than by any of the 

 }ther means in a week. 



The male and female Earwig differ considerably in their anal forceps; 

 those of the female being less curved and destitute of a tooth-like pro- 

 cess, which is observed on the inner side at the base of the forceps of 

 the male. 



There are in all five different species of Earwigs, one of which called 

 Labia is very common, and of smaller size than the one we have just 

 described. It is found about hot-beds and dung-hills, and differs from 

 the common Earwigs somewhat in its habits as well as in its structure. 



The common name given to the Earwig has been variously explained. 

 In Scotland it is called Coachbell. It has been suggested that Earwig 

 may be a corruption of Earwing, from the resemblance in shape that 

 its wing bears to a human ear an explanation which does not seem 

 improbable. 



