SPRING-TAILS. 97 



With haii's ; and the lapygidce have shorter antennae and legs than 

 the other families, and the caudal appendages are modified into a 

 pair of forceps. They are found in damp places or under stones, 

 and are destitute of eyes. 



COLLEMBOLA. 



Wingless, mandibulate insects ; antennae with few joints ; abdo- 

 men composed of six segments ; not undergoing metamorphoses, 

 and not parasitic. 



The Collembola are small insects, the largest of which do not 

 exceed a quarter of an inch in length, and many measure only 

 one-twelfth of an inch, or even much less. Sir John Lubbock 

 divides them into several families, the first of which, the Smynthuridce, 

 has four-jointed antennae, with a long terminal segment ; the head 

 is very large, the thorax short, and the abdomen broad, short, and 

 terminating obtusely somewhat suddenly. The species are rather 

 gaily coloured, many being gx-een or yellow. They are found 

 among grass, dead leaves, or rotten wood. Lubbock gives the 

 following account of the courtship of his Smyntlmrus Luteus, a 

 small yellow species, -^^di of an inch in length, which is common 

 among grass in summer : " It is very amusing to see these little 

 creatures coquetting together. Tlie male, which is much smaller 

 than the female, runs round her, and they butt one another, standing 

 face to face, and moving backwards and forwards like two playful 

 lambs. Then the female pretends to run away, and the male runs 

 after her, with a queer appearance of anger ; gets in front and 

 stands facing her again ; then she turns coyly round, but he, 

 quicker and more active, scuttles round her, and seems to whip 

 her with his antennae ; then for a bit they stand face to face, play 

 with their antennae, and seem to be all in all to one another." — 

 (Lubbock, p. 109.) 



The Fapiriidce are very similar to the Smynthuridce, but the 

 terminal joint of the antennae is short, with whorls of hair. 



In the Degeeriadce and Foduridce the body is cylindrical, but 

 they are distinguished by having the fourth and fifth segments of 

 the abdomen respectively furnished with an apparatus for leaping. 

 They frequent damp places in woods, etc. Several species of the 

 former family are remarkable for their long antennae ; in the lead- 

 coloured Tomocerus Longicornis, Miill., they are longer than the 

 body. Several species of the genera Templetonia and Seira, Lubb.. 



G 



