THE EARWie. 403 



Genus XXX. — Forfcula. l^he Earwig. 



JHIS genus contains fome fpecles of infe6ls that are 

 univerfally known. Their common charafters are feta- 

 ceous antennae ; elytra fhorter than the abdomen ; wings 

 folded up and covered by the elytra ; and a forceps, by 

 which the extremity is armed *. 



Forficula auricularia. This infe£l: is feen every where; 

 it even enters our inmoll apartments. The body is of a 

 yellow colour, inclining to brown ; dark above, and 

 lighter underneath. The forceps with which the ear- 

 wig is provided, procured the generic name, forficula to 

 this tribe. The formidable name of earwig has arifen 

 from a notion, that thefe inlefts entered into the ears of 

 people while afleep, and from thence penetrated into the 

 bram, where they occafioned much pain ; o^ten madnefs 

 and death : The Frefich appellation, which lign'fjes the 

 Ear-piercer, urges this accufation in ftill plainer terms. 



The fmalleft acquaintance with the {lru£ture of the 

 human ear, will eafily prove the fallacy of thefe fufpicions, 

 which have in all probability often coil this animal its 

 iife. It, however, deflroys flov^ers ; and wherever fruit 

 has been wounded byftronger infedls, the earwig general- 

 ly attends for a fecond feaft. 



All thefe animals after fecundation lay eggs, from 

 which caterpillars are produced, that differ but little 

 3 E 3 fion:^ 



5 Syftsma Nat . p. 686, 



