ORTHOPTERA. 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 modus operandi ; 
the forceps were not used at all, but the femora of the middle pair of 
lees 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 Moors, F.E.S., 12, Lower Road, Rother- 
hithe, February 19th, 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, Labidura riparia, 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.| 
OrrHopTERA at ‘‘ Sucar.’—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. Foryicala auricu- 
laria, Li, this species literally covered every patch of sugar nightly ; 
Eetobia lapponica, ., several occurred ; Leptophyes punctatissima, 
Bose., several taken; Meconema varium, Fab., afew; Locusta viridissima, 
L., of this fine species several could have been taken every night; 
Thamnotrizon cinereus, L., several; Platycleis yrisea, Fab., several. 
A. H. Hamm, 52, St. Mary’s Road, Oxford. [F’. auricularia is well 
known asa visitor to sugar. H. lapponica is noticed by Mr. Milton 
(nt. [ee., X1., p. 833). L. punctatissima has been taken at sugar by 
Dr. Dixey, and JM. varium is a familiar visitor and was noticed by 
McLachlan in 1863 and 1876, by Boswell in 1875, and recently by 
Lucas. L. viridisstina apparently comes with double purpose, as 
Boswell records it feeding on the sugar and eating the moths attracted 
to it U’ntom., 1875, p. 165). 7’. cinereus has been taken at sugar by 
Lucas, but P. grisea is a less familiar visitor. I am unaware that it 
has been recorded before under similar circumstances.—M.B.] 
How tone bors Buatta orrentTaLis, Linn., 2 CARRY ITS OOTHECA 
BEFORE DEPOSITION ?—Various authors say from a few days to more 
than a week. On August 28rd last I boxed a 2 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 
