Micro-scopical Essays, 



them on a funny day, when they are flying in little fwarms, fo 

 great is the glowing glory of their heightened colours. 



The ftrength and hardnefs of the elytra are admirably adapted 

 to the various purpofes of the i n feels to which they are appro- 

 priated, and at the fame time that they p rot eel the tender wino-, 

 they ferve as a fnield to the body ; the ribs, and other prominen- 

 cies, on many of them, contribute to lelfen the fri&ion, and 

 diminilh the prelfure to which they are often expofed. 



In moil of thefe infecls the under wing is longer and larger 

 than the exterior one, fo that it is obliged to be bent and folded 

 up, in or derto lie .under the elytra ; for this purpofe they are 

 furnilhed with flrong mufcles, and proper articulations, to difplay 

 and conceal them at pleafure. Fig. 2, Plate XIV. reprefents the 

 wing of the earwig * when unfolded, and of it's natural fize. 

 Fig: 1 reprefents it as exhibited by the omicrofcqpe. We (hall 

 defcribe this more pa rticularly hereafter. 



We have already treated of thofe decided differences in the 

 wings of infecls, which affift the natural hiflorian in ranging 

 them into dalles ; fo infinite are the varieties to be obferveci in 

 this curious organ, that only to enumerate them would occupy 

 many pages ; we muft, therefore, content ourfeives with a few 

 general remarks, leaving it to fome future writer to difplay the 

 wonders that are manifefled in their difpofition, flruclure, mo- 

 tions, and ornaments, In general, the wings are delicate ancl 

 yet flrong, furnilhed with ribs, or nerves, curioufly inofculated 



Y y together. 



Forfkula auricularia, Lin. Sy ft, Nat. vol i, part 2, 686-s. 



