216 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 
rarely pectinated or knobbed; fore wings mostly parch- 
ment-like in texture, and wholly unfitted and unused for 
flight, generally much smaller than the hind wings, and 
sometimes reduced to very narrow laminz or entirely want- 
ing (Phasmidz) ; hind wings ample, folded longitudinally in 
many plaits like a fan; pro-thorax, the largest segment of 
the trunk, often of preposterous size (Llatta, Gryllotalpa, 
Mantis, Tetrix); abdomen generally provided with articu- 
lated sete, or filiform appendages, and in many with a 
prominent. ovipositor. 
‘< NEUROPTERA.—Many of them aquatic in the larva and 
pupa states; transformation various, the pupz of some be- 
ing quiescent, and in all bearing very little resemblance to 
the perfect insects; parts of the mouth, in many adult or 
winged species, rudimentary, soft, and apparently unfitted for 
taking food; in others they vary in structure, but are often 
less complete even than those of the larve; labial palpi ob- 
solete in some; head generally free, often versatile, and rare- 
ly immersed above in the pro-thorax; antenne sometimes 
very short (Zphemere, Libellulade), moniliform, filiform, se- 
taceous, pectinated or knobbed at end; fore wings usually 
as large as or larger than the hind wings, alike to them in 
texture, and equally fitted and used for flight; hind wings 
often smaller than the fore wings, sometimes entirely want- 
ing, never folded in numerous plaits wher at rest; pro- 
thorax (except in Corydalis, Raphidia, and Mantispa) the 
smallest section of the trunk, oftentimes reduced to a mere 
ring ;. meso-thorax the largest segment; abdomen some- 
times with setaceous appendages. 
‘The highly reticulated wings of the Libellule, Myrme- 
leontidz, and some of the Perlade, which may be regarded 
as typical genera, together with the varied and mixed na- 
ture of the transformations, have always justly been regard- 
ed by the most distinguished French and English entomol- 
ogists as forming the most peculiar characteristics of this 
order. In the higher instincts and varied economy of many 
of the Neuroptera we shall find another ground for distin- 
guishing them from the Orthoptera. I need only allude to 
the labors of the Termites, the artistical skill of the Phry- 
ganeade in the construction of their habitations, and the 
faculties and habits of the Myrmeleontide and Hemero- 
biade, with all the various stratagems employed by the 
