176 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV. 



throughout the country powdered naphthaline should be freely used, 

 and at least a quarterly inspection made to renew it. In this way an 

 incalculable amount of harm will be prevented and valuable records be 

 safely preserved. Fish-insects are to be found as commonly in the sub- 

 tropical regions of the country as in the sub-arctic ones. \Y hetber the 

 species varies is at present unknown. 



Order II. Orthoptera. 

 The Orthoptera are Insects with mouth parts conspicuous and formed 

 for biting ; the four palpi (the small ' feelers ' on either side of 

 the mouth) very distinct, and the lower lip longitudinally divided in 

 the middle. The upper wings (tegmina) are of parchment-like consis- 

 tency, being closed in repose on the back of the insect so as to protect 

 it. The lower wings are of more delicate consistency, large and fur- 

 nished longitudinally with fan-like nervures (veins) and small cross 

 ones which form together a network in the wing ; they are generally 

 covered over by the upper wings. The mode of growth of each indi- 

 vidual is a gradual increase in size, the wings being developed during 

 the last moult, i.e., the metamorphosis is incomplete, as there is no 

 pupal stage. Species exist in which the wings are absent or rudiment- 

 ary. Fig. 6 shows an insect belonging to this Order, the common 

 cockroach of India. 



Fig. 6.— Common Indian Cockroach. Periplaneta americana (Calcutta) j- 

 The Orthoptera are Insects of comparatively large size, the Order 

 containing some of the largest known Insecta. It includes earwigs, 

 cockroaches, praying insects or soothsayers, stick and leaf insects, 

 grasshoppers, locusts and crickets. 



The members of the Order often spend some time in the egg stage. 

 After hatching they increase in size by moulting, the whole outer skin 

 being shed at these periods. The wings are never present when the 

 insect is first hatched, but appear subsequently and increase in size at 



