HEXAPODA : CLASSIFICATION". 301 



ancers ; and with a mouth formed for sucking or lapping ; 

 as Flies, Musquitoes, etc. 



4. CoLEOPTERA or Slieath- winged Insects ; with the upper or for- 



ward wings horny, and the under or hind wings larger and 

 membranous ; and with two pairs of jaws for biting ; as Beetles. 



5. HEMIPTERA or Bugs, Cicadas, etc.; with four wings, in most 



cases ; and with the mouth-parts in the form of a beak con- 

 sisting of a horny sheath containing three intensely sharp 

 bristles ; Cicadas, Plant-lice, Bugs, etc. 



6. ORTHOPTERA or Straight-winged Insects; with the forward 



wings somewhat thick, and generally lying straight along the 

 top or sides of the back, and the under ones thinner, larger, 

 and folded in plaits like a fan ; and the mouth-parts adapted 

 for biting ; as Grasshoppers, Locusts, Crickets, etc. 



7. NEUROPTERA or Nerve-winged Insects ; with four membranous 



net-veined wings, the hinder ones, in most cases, the larger ; 

 and with jaws suited for biting ; as Dragon-flies, May-flies, 

 Ant-lions, etc. 



It must be stated here that many naturalists regard 

 these groups as real orders instead of sub-orders ; and they 

 stand as orders in many books which the student and 

 reader may have occasion to consult on this subject. 



These Sub-orders will now be briefly considered and 

 illustrated. 



1. THE SUBORDER OF HYMENOPTERA. These insects, 

 as already indicated, have four membranous wings, the 

 hind pair the smaller, and all traversed by a comparatively 

 few veins. Hymenopters have four jaws, the upper pail- 

 fitted for biting, and the lower pair the longer and softer, 

 and, with the lower lip, adapted for collecting honey, in 

 many cases. The females are provided with stings, but 

 the males have no weapons excepting their jaws. In pass- 

 ing from the egg state to the imago state they undergo 

 a complete transformation. 



