HISTORY OF INSECTS. 55 



from beneath them ; and, when examined in 

 this position, appear totally useless as organs of 

 flight. 



169. When unfolded, the hind wings are re- 

 markahly beautiful ; they are of ample size, 

 perfectly transparent, displaying prismatic colours 

 when moved in the light, and are intersected 

 by veins, which radiate from near the centre to 

 the margin. 



170. The shape of these wings, when fully 

 opened, is precisely that of the human ear ; and 

 from this circumstance, it seems highly probable 

 that the original name of this insect was earwing, 

 and not earwig, which appears to be entirely 

 without a meaning. 



171. Earwigs subsist principally on the leaves 

 and flowers of plants, and on fruit, and they are 

 entirely nocturnal insects, retiring by day into 

 dark crevices and corners, where they are screened 

 from observation. The rapidity with which they 

 devour the petals of a flower is remarkable : they 

 clasp the edge of a petal in their fore legs, and 

 then, stretching out their head as far as possible, 

 bite out a mouthful ; then another mouthful nearer, 

 and so on till the head is brought to the fore legs. 



172. This mode of eating is exactly that which 

 is used by the caterpillars of butterflies and 

 moths ; the part of the leaf or petal is eaten out 

 in a semicircular form, anft the head is thrust out 

 to the extreme part after every series of mouthfuls. 



