the ear-wig, in zoology, a genus of insects belonging to the order of coleoptera. The antennae are bristly; the elytra are dimidiated; the wings are covered; and the tail is forked. There are two species, viz. the auricularia, or common earwig, with the tops of the elytra white; and the minor, with testaceous and unpotted elytra.—This genus of insects is one of the best known, the forceps at the extremity of their abdomen forming a very distinctive character. It is this seeming weapon that has occasioned these insects to be called forficula in Latin; and the formidable name of ear-wigs has been given them in English, from a notion that the insect frequently introduces itself into the ears, causing great pain, and even death. Mr Barbut, however, affirms us, that the forceps which the ear-wig carries at his tail, and with which he seems provided for his defence, is not so formidable as it at first appears, being destitute of strength sufficient to produce the least sensible impression. The larva of the ear-wig differs very little from the perfect insect. Ear-wigs are very mischievous vermin in gardens, especially where carnations are preserved; for they are so fond of these flowers, that if care is not taken to prevent them, they will entirely destroy them, by eating off the sweet part at the bottom of the petals or leaves. To prevent which, most people have traps erected, which have a basin of earth or lead round each supporter, which is constantly kept filled with water. Others hang the hollow claws of crabs and lobsters upon sticks in divers parts of the garden into which those vermin get; and by often searching them, you will destroy them without much trouble, which will be of great service to your wall-fruit, for these are great destroyers also of all soft fruits.
FORGE properly signifies a little furnace, wherein smiths and other artificers of iron or steel, &c. heat their metals red-hot, in order to soften them and render them more malleable and manageable on the anvil.
An ordinary forge is nothing but a pair of bellows, the nozzle of which is directed upon a smooth area, on which coals are placed. The nozzle of a pair of bellows may be also directed to the bottom of any furnace, to excite the combustion of the coals placed there, by which a kind of forge is formed. In laboratories, there is generally a small furnace consisting of one cylindrical piece, open at top, which has at its lower side a hole for receiving the nozzle of a double bellows. This kind of forge-furnace is very convenient for fusions, as the operation is quickly performed, and with few coals. In its lower part, two inches above the hole for receiving the nozzle of the bellows, may be placed an iron-plate of the same diameter, supported upon two horizontal bars, and pierced near its circumference with four holes diametrically opposite to each other. By this disposition, the wind of the bellows, pushed forcibly under this plate, enters at these four holes; and thus the heat of the fire is equally distributed, and the crucible in the furnace is equally surrounded by it. This contrivance is used in the forge-furnaces for melting copper, with this difference only, that these furnaces are square, which is a matter of no consequence.
As the wind of bellows strongly and rapidly excites the action of the fire, a forge is very convenient when a great heat is to be applied quickly; but it is not suitable when the heat is to be gradually increased.
The forge, or blast of bellows, is used in several operations in small; as to fuse salts, metals, ores, &c. It is also much used in works in the great, which require strong heat, without much management; and chiefly in the smelting of ores, and fusion of metallic matters.
Forge is also used for a large furnace, wherein iron-ore, taken out of the mine, is melted down: or it is more properly applied to another kind of furnace, wherein the iron-ore, melted down and separated in a former furnace, and then cast into fows and pigs, is heated and fused over again, and beaten afterwards with large hammers, and thus rendered more soft, pure, ductile, and fit for use.