CLASS V. INSECTA. 219 



irregular flights in many parts of Europe, ;uk1 visited England: but 

 they perished in a very short time, before they did mucli luuin. 



*' Ot" all the insect'^ wliich are capable of adding to the calamities 

 of the human race, locusts seem to possess the most formidable 

 powers of destruction. Legions of these voracious animals of various 

 species are prod\tced in Africa, where the devasUition they commit 

 is almost incredible. The air is darkened by tlieir numbers; they 

 carry desolation with them wherever they pass, and in the short 

 space of a few hours are said to change the most fertile provinces in- 

 to a barren desert. 



" Some of the species ser\'c as food, and are eaten fresh as well as 

 salted. In the latter state they arc constantly exposed to sale in the 

 Levant, but the quantity of nutritious matter is said to be very small." 



Stiri's 1. — Hinder U'<^s longer than the bo<ly : aiittniiic capitate: scu- 

 ttUum short. 



Genus '165. GOMPHOCERUS. Leach's MSS. Gomimioceros. 

 Thunb. 

 nindtr legs longer than the body : antenna cipitiitc; club of the anten- 

 na; spoon-shapt (1 in both se.xes : anterior tibia: simple. 

 Sp. 1. Gotiiph. riijus. 

 <Jryllus rufus. Linne. 

 Lihabits England. 



Stirps 3. — Wings covered by the scutellum. 



Genus 2G0. ACRYDIUM. Fabr., Geoff., Dc Gecr, Oliv., Leach. 

 Sp. 1. Acr. subnhitum. Obscure, testaceous brown, granulose : thorax 



carinated, marginated. 

 Gryllus sid^ulatus. Linn. Acrydium subulatum. Fubr., Oliv., Leach. 



Tctrix subulata. Lutr. 

 Inhabits Europe. It is found on hot and sandy banks, and is subject 

 to some variation in colour. 



The species of Acrydiimi are but little understood. We seem to 

 possess three very distinct indigenous species, all varving in size, 

 sculpture, and colour. 



» 



Order VI. DICTYOPTERA. Uaeh. 

 Order Hemiptera. Linne. 

 Class Uloxata. Fabr, 

 Order Orthoptera. Latr. 



Characters of the Order. 

 Elytra coriaceous, nervose, decussating each other: mugs membra- 

 naceous, with a few longitudinal folds: maxillary palpi elongate: 

 body depressed, oval, or somewhat orbicular : tani with five joints. 



