306 MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 



thing that occurred in its vicinity. — Many Tipulae, and 

 likewise some mites (Acarus vibrans and Gamasus mo- 

 (atorius, F.), distinguished by long anterior legs, from 

 this circumstance denominated joef/e5w?o^«/on7 by Linne, 

 holding them up in the air impart to them a vibratory 

 motion, resembling that of the antennae of some in- 

 sects^. — I scarcely need mention, what must often have 

 attracted your attention, the actions of flies when they 

 clean themselves ; how busily they rub and wipe their 

 head and thorax with tlieir fore legs, and their wings 

 and abdomen with their hind ones. — Perhaps you are 

 not equally aware of the use to which the rove-beetles 

 (StapIiT/linKS, L.) put their long abdomen. They turn 

 it over their back not only to put themselves in a threat- 

 ening attitude, as I lately related ''j but also to fold up 

 their wings with it, and pack them under their short 

 elytra. 



With respect to the motions of insects inaction, they 

 may be subdivided, as was just observed, into motions 

 whose object is change of place — and sportive motions. 



The locomotions of these animals are walking, run- 

 ning, jumping, climbing, flying, swimming, and bur- 

 rowing. I begin with the walkers. 



The mode of their loalkitig depends upon the num- 

 ber and kind of their legs. With regard to these, 

 insects may be divided into four natural classes ; viz. 

 /fexapods, or those that have only six legs : such are 

 those of every order except the Aptera of Linne, of 

 which only three or four genera belong to this class. — 

 Octopodsy or those that have eigfff legs, including the 



" De Gcer, vi, 336. " See above, p. ?S^T. 



