346 MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 



wings, and the female glow-worms neither wings nor 

 elytra. 



Many persons are not aware that the insects of the 

 next order, the Dermaptera, can fly : but earwigs (Z^w- 

 ficula\ their size considered, are furnished with very 

 ample and curious wings, the principal nervures of 

 which are so many radii, diverging from a common 

 point near the anterior margin. Between these are 

 others which, proceeding from the opposite margin, 

 terminate in the middle of the wing*. These organs, 

 when at rest, are more tlian once folded both trans- 

 versely and longitudinally. 



Wings equally ample, forming the quadrant of a cir- 

 cle, and with five or six nervures diverging from their 

 base, distinguish the strepsipteroiis tribe. When iniem- 

 ployed, these are folded longitudinally ''. 



Probably in the next order {Orthoptet-a), the Teg- 

 ynitiUf or wing-covers — since they are usually of a much 

 thinner substance than elytra — assist them in flying. 

 They are however quite covered by irregular reticula- 

 tions, produced by various nervures sent forth by the 

 longitudinal ones, and running in all directions. When 

 at rest, the inner part ol" one laps over that of the other "^ : 

 but in different genera there is a singular variation in 

 this circumstance. Thus in Blatta, Phasma, and male 

 Acridcc, and generally speaking, but not invariably, in 

 Locusta and Truxalisy — the left elytrum laps over the 



' Pi-AXE X. Fig. 3. " Platl II. Fig. 1. It has been 



ascertained that the spnrions elytra of these insects arc serviceable 

 in their flight. As M. Latreillc ntnv allows this, he onght to have 

 restored its original name, which he had altered, to this order. 



= Pi.A ri. X. Fig. i. 



