xvm INSECTA : ORTHOPTERA 271 



(tegmina), except for two hard pieces which always project 

 beyond them (Fig. 201, m). These two projecting pieces are 

 not the tips of the second pair of wings, but merely the ends 

 of the harder portions of these wings. The membranous part 

 of each, which projects beyond the shaded portions in Fig. 

 201, A, are usually folded like a fan and then turned back 

 under the harder piece, m. Transverse folding is also neces- 

 sary to some extent, in order to get these large membranous 

 wings packed securely away. In spite of these well-developed 

 wings, flight seems very rare, and probably never occurs in 

 the lives of many individuals. It is a strange fact that the 

 wings should be so highly developed and yet should be never 

 or rarely used. 



, . Loving darkness, earwigs hide during the day in 



the spurs of flowers or any dark corner, and come 

 out at dusk to feed. As has been already said, they seldom fly, 

 but occasionally they are found after the night, stuck to some 

 freshly tarred paling, with wings still expanded, proving that 

 flight does, at any rate occasionally, occur. After flight, the 

 packing away of the back wings under the wing-covers or 

 " tegmina " is said to be aided by the action of the pincers at 

 the end of the body, which are put into an effective position 

 by the upward curving of the very flexible abdomen. 



Eggs are laid by the female at varying times between the 

 autumn and early spring. They are deposited in a little heap 

 on, or just in, the ground, and the mother is said to watch over 

 them and over the young larvae when first they appear. 

 Though the females, unlike the males, can live through the 

 winter, they die in the spring. 



The young larvae are at first very like the adults, except 

 in the absence of wings and in the smaller number of joints 

 to the antennae ; gradually they attain the adult form, after 

 each moult a distinct advance being manifest. 



The families Mantidae (Praying Insects) and 



Forms Phasmidae (Leaf and Stick Insects) also belong to 

 the Cursorial or Running Orthoptera. Of all 

 families of insects, these show the most wonderful protective 

 coloration, and mimicry of objects in their environment, 

 and they form a fascinating study, though, as none of them 

 are British, they must be passed over here with this bare 

 mention of them. 



