262 THE EAR-WIGS. 



as though brandy had been thrown into them. The 

 principal enemy of the Bombardier is another insect 

 of the same tribe, but three or four times its. size. 

 When pursued and fatigued, the Bombardier has re- 

 course to this stratagem : he lies down in the path 

 of his enemy, who advances with open mouth to 

 seize him; but, on the discharge of the artillery, this 

 suddenly draws back, and remains for a while con- 

 fused, during which the Bombardier conceals him- 

 self in some neighbouring crevice; but, if not lucky 

 enough to find one, the other returns to the attack, 

 takes the insect by the head, and tears it off. 



The head, antenna;, thorax, and feet, are of a 

 brownish red colour. The eyes are black, and the 

 abdomen and wing-cases blue, bordering on black : 

 the latter are marked with broad but shallow striae. 

 This insect is sometimes found in England. 



THE EARWIGS. 



IN this tribe the antennae are bristle-shaped ; 

 and the feelers unequal and thread -shaped. The 

 wing-cases are half the length of the abdomen, and 

 have the wings folded up under them, somewhat in 

 the manner of a fan. The tail is armed with a for- 

 ceps. 



The Earwigs undergo only a semi-metamorpho- 

 sis, differing in external appearance very little in 

 the three states. 



