Microscopical Essays. 



375 



from the center to the outer edge, others are extended only from 

 the edge about half way, but they are all united by a kind of 

 band, at a fmall but equal diftance from the edge ; the whole 

 evidently contrived to ftrengthen the wing, and facilitate the 

 various motions thereof. The earwig is a very deftru&ive 

 animal, doing confiderable injury to mod kinds of wall fruit, to 

 carnations, and other fine flowers, &c. and as they only feed in 

 the night, they efcape the fearch of the gardener. Reeds open 

 at both ends, and placed among fruit trees, are a good trap for 

 them, as they croud into thefe open channels, and may be blown 

 out into a tub of water. As they conceal themfelves in the day- 

 time, thofe that are curious in flowers place tobacco pipes, lob- 

 fters claws, &c. on the top of their garden flicks, in order to 

 catch them. This infeci differs very little in appearance in it's 

 three different ftates. De Geer aflerts, that the female fits on her 

 eggs, and broods over the young ones as a hen does over her 

 eggs. 



Of the Eyes of Insects. 



The contraction and formation of the eyes of infefts diners 

 confiderably from that of other animals. In other creatures the 

 eyes are moveable, and generally placed one on each fide of the 

 head, and two are fufficient for all the purpofes of vifion. But 

 in infecls the eyes are fixed, and therefore would not ferve to give 

 them a view of any- object but what was placed directly before 

 them. We therefore find that they are provided with a number 

 of eyes, which in fome fpecies, as in the fpider, are fingle, and 

 placed at fome diftance from each other. But the greater part 



are 



