OKTHOPTERA. 79 



as soon as the creature landed on the bottom or side of the box, they 

 remained a short time their full length over the back of the abdomen, 

 and while watching for the forceps to come into use were quietly drawn 

 up under the elytra. Further observation revealed the uiodns operandi ; 

 the forceps were not used at all, but the femora of the middle pair of 

 legs raised so that the knees touched the hinge-joints of the costal 

 nervures, this allowed them to bend, the wings folding automatically 

 as they were drawn over the back and under the elytra. The wings 

 were not seized by the forceps and by them tucked away ; the insect 

 can and does secure its wings properly without their aid. Confined 

 within the limits of an ordinary glass-bottomed box and observed 

 indoors under a good light until I was tired of watching, the insect 

 being very active, so much so, that it might have been one of the 

 Saltatoria, I most positively affirm that in no one instance were the 

 forceps used. Indeed, if, as Wood says, the primary use of the forceps 

 is to pack the wings under the elytra, what, one may ask can be their 

 purpose amongst the apterous species ? Perhaps other students who 

 have had the opportunity, may be induced to relate their observations 

 upon the matter. — Harry Moore, F.E.S., 12, Lower Eoad, Eother- 

 hithe, Fehruary Idth, 1900. [That the forceps cannot be exclusively 

 used for the operation of folding the wings is obvious, for about half 

 the known species of earwigs are incapable of flight ; in many exotic 

 forms, too, the forceps are too complicated and clumsy to be of any 

 assistance for such a purpose, and are sometimes even longer than the 

 body. They may serve as weapons of offence or defence. According 

 to Kirby and Spence, Lahidura rijjaria, Pall., when disturbed, turns its 

 tail over its head, giving it a most alarming appearance. The forceps 

 are almost invariably more simple in the female than in the male, so 

 they may be useful for sexual purposes. — M.B.] 



Orthoptera at " Sugar." — I was staying near Torquay, south 

 Devon, from August 5th-16th, 1899, and "sugared" almost nightly 

 for Lepidoptera, and at the same time the following Orthoptera were 

 taken, which have been kindly verified by Mr. Burr. Forricida auricn- 

 laria, L., this species literally covered every patch of sugar nightly ; 

 Ectohia lapponica, L., several occurred ; LtptopJnjes punctatiaMiiia, 

 Bosc, several taken ; Meconema varium, Fab., a few, Loctista viridissima, 

 L., of this fine species several could have been taken every night ; 

 TJtanuiotrhoii cinereus, L., several; Flatydeis f/risea, Fah., several. — ■ 

 A. H. Hamm, 52, St. Mary's Eoad, Oxford. [F. anricularia is well 

 known as a visitor to sugar. F. lapponica is noticed by Mr. Milton 

 [Fnt. Ilec, xi., p. 833). L. piinctatitivinia has been taken at sugar by 

 Dr. Dixey, and 21. varium is a familiar visitor and was noticed by 

 McLachlan in 1863 and 1876, by BosAvell in 1875, and recently by 

 Lucas. L. viriiUssijiia apparently comes with double purpose, as 

 Boswell records it feeding on the sugar and eating the moths attracted 

 to it {Fntom., 1875, p. 165). T. cinereus has been taken at sugar by 

 Lucas, but F. {irisea is a less familiar visitor. I am unaware that it 

 has been recorded before under similar circumstances. — M.B.] 



How LOMG DOES BlATTA ORIENTALIS, LiNN., ? CARRY ITS OOTHECA 



BEFORE DEPOSITION ? — Various authors say from a few days to more 

 than a week. On August 23rd last I boxed a ? which shortly after 

 began to extrude its egg-case. Having for some time been collecting 

 stray notes on the ova of Orthoptera I kept the insect under close 



