C L E P T E R A . — R T H P T E R A . — H E M I P T E R A . 11 



Coleoptei'a (some Staphyliiiidce and Nitiduladce, Dla- rio-. 2. 

 perldidce, some Serropalpidce, Mycetophagidce, Eroty- 

 lidcB, and Endomychidce) live altogether on agarics, 

 mushrooms, and toadstools, jdants of very little use to 

 man, many of them poisonous, and in a state of decay 

 often otfensive ; these fungus-eaters are therefore to be 

 reckoned among our friends. There are others, such as ^^^' 

 the stag-beetles (^Lncanidce) , some spring-beetles {Ehiteridce), dark- 

 ling-beetles {TenebrionidcB), (Figs. 1 — 3.) and many Fi"-. 3. 

 bark-l^eetles {Helopidce, Cisteladce, Serropalpidce^ (Ele- 

 meradce^ CucujadcB, and some TrogosUadce), which, liv- 

 ing under the bark and in the trunks and roots of old 

 trees, though they may occasionally prove injurious, must 

 on the whole be considered as serviceable, by contribut- 

 ing to destroy and reduce to dust plants that have passed 

 their prime and are fast going to decay. And, lastly, 

 the blistering-beetles (^Ganiliarididce) have, for a Ion"- time, been 

 employed with great benefit in the healing art. 



2. Orthoptera ( CocZ;roac7«fs, Crickets^ Grasshojypers^ ^f^O" 

 Insects with jaws, two rather thick and opaque- upper winfrs, 

 overlapping a little on the back, and tw^o larger, thin wings, 

 Avhich are folded in plaits, like a fan. Transformation par- 

 tial. LarvcG and pupai active, but wanting wings. 



All of tlie insects of this order, except the camel-crickets (JSIan- 

 tida;), Avhich prey on other insects, are injurious to our household 

 possessions, or destructive to vegetation. 



3. Hemiptera (^Bugs^ Locusts, Plant-lice, tfc). Insects 

 witli a horny beak for suction, four wings, whereof the 

 uppermost are generally thick at the base, w^ith thinner 

 extremities, which lie flat, and cross each other on the top 

 of the back, or are of uniform thickness throughout, and 

 slope at the sides like a roof. Transformation partial. Larva? 

 and pvipa^ nearly like the adult insect, but wanting wings. 



The various kinds of field and house bugs give out a strong and 

 disagreeable smell. Many of them (some Pentatomadcs and Ly- 



