EAR 
and that it is exceedingly harmlefs, almoft every 
perlbn's experience can teftify. With it's tail, 
which is forked, it frequently attempts to defend 
itfelf againft it's afiailants; but fuch efforts are 
merely the threats of impotence, as they only draw- 
forth the aggravated refentment of more powerful 
anim.als without conducing to it's own prefervation. 
The deformed figure and llender fhape of the Ear- 
Wig have alfo fubjefted it to an imputation, v/hich, 
though totally founded in prejudice, often operates 
to it's dcftruiftion : it is fuppofed frequently to en- 
ter the ears of perlbns when afleep, and to caufe 
intolerable pain j the confequence of which is mad- 
nefs, and foon after death itfelf. Indeed, it's 
French appellation, importing an Ear-piercer^ 
urges the calumny againft this harmlefs inied: in 
very pointed terms : but nothing can be more un- 
juft; for the ear contains a thick tenacious fub- 
ftance capable of entangling any infeft that might 
attempt to enter it; befides, being well lined and 
defended with membranes, none of thcfe animal- 
cules could gain admiffion if the ear-v/ax was re- 
moved. Such a fuppofition, therefore, muft be 
vague, and even groundlefs. The charges which 
gardeners bring againft thefe infecfts are not, how - 
ever, fo deftitute of foundation ; for there is nothing 
more certain, than tliat they live among flowers, 
and deftroy them; and when fruit alfo has been 
wounded by flies, the Ear- Wigs generally come 
in for a fecond featl, and extraft thofe juices which 
before were only broached. Still, however, thefe 
creatures are lels noxious in that refpedtthan is ge- 
nerally believed ; and they are but rarely the firft 
promoters of any mifchief. 
As there are various fpecies of thefe animals, 
fo they fix on different breeding-places; but, in 
general, they depofit their eggs under tiie bark of 
plants, orof trees which have begun to decay. They 
proceed from the eggs in that reptile flate in v/hich 
tliey are moft commonly feen; and, as they grow 
larger, their v^-ings, bound under the ikin, begin 
to protrude. The flieaths in which their wings 
are enveloped cover them fo neatly, that the 
animals feem totally deftitute of wings; and, 
even when tliey have burft from their confine- 
ment, by means of the mulcles and joints in the 
middle of the wings, they fold together in a very 
narrow compafs. 
Whenever the Ear-Wig becomes an inhabitant 
of the fky, it flies in puriuit of the female, ceaies to 
feed, and is wholly employed in the bufinefs of 
generation. It exifts in it's winged ftate but a 
verv fl-iort time; and, after having provided for a 
continuance of poft'erity, it begins to wafte, and 
dies in a few days of an univerfal confumption. 
The dried powder of Ear- Wigs is efteemed falu- 
t-ary in cafes of deafnefs, and the oil prepared f rom 
tliem in fpafms and convulfions. 
Ear-Wig, Sea. SeeFoRFicuLA Marina. 
EARTH-PIKE. A fpecies of Weft Indian 
lizard, called fchink by fome authors, from a fup- 
pofition that it refembles the Egyptian animal of 
that name. It obtains the appellation of the 
Earth-Pike from it's fancied fimiiirude to the River- 
Pike when the legs are amputated. This animal 
is very fiefliy; the tail is more thick than is ufual 
in the lizard genus; but the legs are fb very Ihort, 
that it is barely able to creep along tlie ground. 
The flcin is covered with a vaft number of fmall 
fcales like thofe of ferpents, of a yellow filvery co- 
lour fliining as if rubbed with oil. The flefh of 
this creature, if eaten in moderation, is pretended 
EAR 
to be an antidote againft poifons, and wounds in- 
flifted by envenomed arrows. 
Another fpecies of the Earth-Pike is frequently 
found in wet and marihy fituations. This very 
deformed creature is about feven inches in length; 
the back is covered with black and grey fpots ; the 
lower part of the belly, which is fcaly, Tnines as if 
anointed with oil ; the colour of the fkin is a palifh 
yellow; the head is little, and accuminated; the 
mouth is pretty wide, and armed with fharp teeth; 
and the eyes, which are very fmall, are incapable of 
fupporting the glare of day-light. As foon as this 
animal is forced from under ground, it immedi- 
ately endeavours to regain it's fubterraneous abode, 
by digging the earth, like the mole, with it's hard 
hooked claws. It is extremely injurious to gar- 
dens and orchards, where it gnaws the roots of 
trees and plants. It's bite is alfo accounted ve- 
nomous, and is perhaps not lefs fo than that of the 
moft poifonous ferpent. 
EARTH PUCERONS. An appellation 
given by naturalifts to a fpecies of Puceron which 
makes choice of a very fingular habitation. Ifj 
during the month of March, the turf of any dry 
pafture be raifed in feveral places, there will be 
found under various parts of it clufters of ants; 
and, on a more minute inveftigation, it will ufually 
appear that thefe emmets are coUefted round fome 
Pucerons of a peculiar fpecies, which are large, 
of a greyifh colour, and generally found in the 
middle of a ciufter of pifmires. 
The common abodes of the feveral other fpecies 
of Pucerons are in the young branches or leaves of 
trees; and, as the fap or juice of vegetables con- 
ftitutes their only food, probably thefe earthy 
kinds extra6l the moifture from the roots of grafs 
and other plants, in the fame m.anner as others do 
from their different parts. The fanie ants which 
condudl us to thefe Pucerons alfo dire61: us where 
to find the greater part of the other fpecies; for this 
reafon, nam.ely, that as thefe creatures feed on the 
faccharine juices of plants, they are evacuated from 
their bodies in a liquid form, very little altered 
from their original flate; and the ants, which are 
fond of fuch food, find it ready prepared for them 
in the excrements v/hich tliefe little animals are 
continually voiding. 
EARTH-WORM. A well-known infed be- 
longing to the genus of inteftines; which, being 
entirely deftitute of feet, trails itfelf along the 
ground, till it finds a retreat either under the fur- 
face of the earth or in the vv^ater. A fpiral mufcle 
runs round it's v/hole body, from the head to the 
tail, fomewhat refembling wire wrapped round a 
walking-ftick, which, v/hen flipped off, and one 
end extended and held faft, will bring the other 
nearer to it; and in this manner the anim.al having 
extended it's body, lays hold of the flime of the 
fore-part of it's frame, and fo contrads and brings 
forward the hinder part; in that pofition moving 
on, though not v/ithout great efforts: but the oc- 
cafions for it's progreflive motions being but few, 
it's ftruggles arc not often reiterated. 
Deftined by nature to a fubterraneous abode 
and a life of obfcurity, all tiie powers of the Earth- 
Worm feem adapted to it's fituation. It's body 
is armed with final], ftiff, fharp prickles, which it 
can either ereft or deprefs at pleafure; and under 
the flsin there 'is a kind of flimy juice, which the 
creature ejefts, as occafion requires, at certain per- 
forations betv/een the rings of the mufcles, in or- 
der to lubricate it's body, and thereby facilitate 
it's 
