ORTHOPTERA. 
49 
lected together in a mass, and deposited in a large horny 
case, nearly half the size of the abdomen of the female, 
more or less oval in form, and somewhat compressed— 
not unlike a small bean. Within these cases the eggs 
are ranged in two rows, separated by a partition running 
down the middle, while other partitions occurring trans¬ 
versely, form separate chambers for the separate eggs. 
The cockroach may occasionally be seen running about 
with the egg-case protruded from her body. The males 
have very small wings, in the females they are rudimen¬ 
tary. This species, as well as another, the Blatta 
Americana , is extremely common on board ships, and 
is most numerous in seaport towns. A very large 
species, the Blatta gigantea , occurs in the West Indies, 
where, from its knocking noise, it is called the drummer. 
This insect will attack persons when asleep, and will 
even eat the extremities of the dead. 
Our native species of Blattidoe are out-of-door insects, 
and much smaller than the black knight of the kitchen. 
B. Lapponica has pale-brown wing-cases, semi-trans¬ 
parent, and prettily veined. It is said to be freely found 
in the New Forest. 
Earwigs ( Forficula auricularia) are by some natural¬ 
ists placed in a different Order ; they constitute the Der- 
maptera of Leach, and the Euplexoptera of Westwood. 
This latter term (“beautifully folded”) refers to the struc¬ 
ture of the wings—a striking characteristic of these insects 
—whosenervuresradiate in a peculiar manner. The w T ings 
are of delicate texture, and fold up into the shape of a 
closed fan. The tail-forceps appears to be useful in 
helping the insect to pack or tuck up the wings under 
the wing-covers—a task which, considering the very 
E 
