449 



in size, and a short, straight ovij^ositor [forceps]. It is of the size of 

 Forficula minor ^ but is still a larva."* And Genuar writes that, np to 

 1856, but a single specimen of an earwig had been found in amber, a 

 larva, agreeing so completely with the full-grown larva of Forf. auricu- 

 laria that description and illustration are superfluous, t The* full-grown 

 larva of F. auricularia, however, has but fourteen, and even the per- 

 fect insect but fourteen or fifteen, joints in its anteunte ; and the for- 

 ceps are neither short nor straight, but nearly as long as the abdomen, 

 and incurved at the tip. It would seem probable, therefore, that these 

 authors were writing of different insects, and that Germar overlooked 

 Burmeister's statement. Gravenhorst, also, is said to refer to a German 

 species from amber ; but I have not yet been able to examine the refer- 

 ence to it. Finally, Massalongo describes and figures | a species from 

 the Tertiaries of Monte Bolca, which he calls Forficula holeansis, and 

 which again he compares to F. auricularia Linn. This species, which 

 in point of fact is much nearer F. albvpennis Muehlf. than F. auricularia, 

 is even more perfect than ours, and seems to be a true Forficula. The 

 same may probably be said of Heer's species, or at least of the two 

 which are figured (none are described) ; but in these cases we have 

 only a few abdominal joints and the forceps from which to draw any 

 conclusion. It is by no means improbable that the two insects figured 

 by Heer are different sexes of the same species. 



* Burmeister, Handb. of Entom., Engl, traus., 579. 

 t Berendt, Org. Eeste in Bernstein, ii, i, 33. 

 t Massalongo, Strid. Pal., 15-16, pi. 1, figs. 5-7. 



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