EARWIG, OR FORFICULA. 13S 
speedily eaten up by those that re- 
mained : at last the mother died, and 
they devoured her also. 
Lucy, Well, I think I may now call 
them odious earwigs. 
Mother. But they have some excuse, 
for they had not been supplied with 
food: and [hunger reconciles the strong- 
est antipathies, even in mankind. 
In July, the only remaining one went 
into its pupa state, and after a few days 
appeared a perfect earwig. 
Lucy, What is the scientific name of 
the earwig ? 
Mother, Forjicula auricularia ; for- 
ficula, from its forked tail ; and auricu- 
laria, from its supposed propensity to 
creep into the ear. 
Lucy. Has it really that propensity ? 
Mother. Its common name bears that 
meaning in three different languages, and 
therefore seems to lend some probability 
to the idea ; yet the instances of its having 
been found in the human ear are so very 
rare, that I imagine they arose from 
