THE MIGKATOHY LOCUST. 331 



size and beautiful colouring of the wings. When the insect 

 opens its wings for flight, they spread out on either side in 

 a fan-like form, very much resembling the pectoral fins of the 

 Flying Gurnard, the resemblance being increased by their dark, 

 shining surface. The generic name Gryllacris is Greek, signify- 

 ing " cricket-locust ; " and the specific name signifera is Latin, 

 and means " a standard-beaier." 



The next family is c?i^e(\. Acrididm, from a Greek word signi- 

 fying " a grasshopper." The Acrid idae resemble the Locustidre 

 in the arrangement of their elytra, which are boldly deflexed. 

 They may, however, be distinguished by their antennae, which are 

 very slender and hair-like, after innning to a wonderful length, 

 and sometimes having more than two hundred joints. They also 

 differ from the Locnstidae in the structure of the feet, which 

 have four joints instead of three. There are very many species 

 comprised in this family, and it is therefore necessary to select 

 a few examples of those species which present the most striking 

 cliaracteristics. 



The first and perhaps the most important of these insects is 

 the Migratory Locust, so familiar to ns by its frequent mention 



Fig. 106.— FuL-liytylus niigratorius. 

 (Green, mottled with dark brown.) 



in Holy Writ, The elytra of this insect are green-brown, 

 mottled with a darker hue, the colour being much more brilliant 

 during the life of the insect than after its deatli. Some of these 



