The Earwig. 563 
Order IT. Orthoptera. 
In this order the elytra, or wing-cases, are much softer 
and more flexible than in the beetles ; they are frequently 
membranous or webbed, and when closed they do not 
form a straight line down the back. The mouth is also 
different ; the maxillae being terminated by a horny, 
toothed piece called the galea. There is also a kind of 
tongue, and the metamorphosis is incomplete. 
THE EAKWIG. (Forficula auricularia.) 
Unlike most other insects, the female Earwig watches 
over her eggs until they are hatched, and afterwards 
attends upon her young progeny for some time. At the 
beginning of the month of June, M. de Geer found, under 
a stone, a female Earwig, accompanied by many little 
ones, evidently her young. They continued close to her, 
and often placed themselves under her body, as chickens 
do under a hen. 
This little animal is very nimble, and perfectly harm- 
less, except to flowers, notwithstanding the fabulous 
charge which was so long believed against it, of its en- 
tering the human ear, and depositing its eggs there, 
which were said to cause intolerable pain when hatched, 
and the young began to gnaw the inside of the ear. The 
Earwig possesses wings, which, when extended, cover 
mearly 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 an oval shape. There is great ele- 
gance in the manner in which the insect folds its wings 
beneath its elytra. 
THE BLACK BEETLE, OR COCKROACH, 
(Blatta Orientalis,) 
So common in London kitchens, is nearly allied to the 
Earwig. 
