470 A DESCRIPTION OF 
ORDER II. rtjjoptera, 
In this order the elytra, or wing-cases, are much softer 
and more flexible than in the beetles ; they are frequently 
membraneous or webbed, and when closed they do not 
form a straight line down the back. The mouth is also dif- 
ferent; the maxillae being terminated by a horny, toothed 
piece called the galea. There is also a kind of tongue, 
and the metamorphosis is only half complete. 
THE EARWIG. (Forficula auricularia.) 
UNLIKE those of most other insects the eggs are hatched 
and the young Earwigs are fostered by the parent. At 
the beginning of the month of June, M. de Geer found 
under a stone a female Earwig, accompanied by many 
little ones, which evidently appeared to be her young. 
They continued close to her, and often placed themselves 
under her body, as chickens do under a hen. 
In the common appearance the animal is very nimble, 
and perfectly harmless, except to flowers, notwithstanding 
the fabulous charge which was so long believed against it, 
of entering the human ear, and depositing its eggs there, 
which, of course, it was supposed would cause intolerable 
pain when they were hatched, and the young began to 
gnaw the inside of the ear. The Earwig possesses wings, 
which, when extended, cover nearly the whole insect. 
The elytra, or wing-cases, are short, and do not extend 
along the whole body, but only over the breast. The 
wings are concealed beneath these, and are somewhat of 
