EARWIG. 
297 
pensity which the earwig has to creep into holes 
and cavities whenever it has an opportunity. But 
it is accused unjustly of doing harm, since it has not 
the power to do it, notwithstanding the formidable 
appearance of its forked tail. 
A remarkable part of the structure of this insect 
is its elegant wings, which are so completely shut 
up under the wing-cases and so rarely expanded in 
the day-time, that the generality of observers, who 
are not conversant in natural history, suppose them 
to be entirely wanting. The wings are very large 
in proportion to the animal, and it is wonderful to 
observe the very small space they take up before 
they are protruded. Great contrivance is manifested 
in the folding of them : they are first closed length- 
ways like a fan, and afterwards refolded across in 
two different places, so as to lie in the least possible 
compass, and in the best manner for immediate ex- 
pansion. 
The earwig, like most other insects, is hatched 
from the egg, and the female when she deposits her 
burthen generally chooses a moist and shaded situa- 
tion for her purpose. This is frequently under a 
stone, where the little white and oval eggs remain 
till the young larvae burst from the shells, formed 
in every respect like the parent, except that the for- 
ceps at the tail are not at first turned inwards. It 
seems that the parent insect is really attached to 
her young ; and, singular as it may appear among 
this tribe of animals, she fosters them with the 
greatest care. The indefatigable M. Degeer, who 
