314 MOTiojsis or insects. 



tica, F.)} and the splendid African tribe of Sagra, F.% 

 &c. The object of these disproportioned and clumsy 

 thighs is to allow space for more powerful muscles, by 

 which the tibiae, when the legs are unbent, are impelled 

 with greater force. In the Orthoptcra order all the 

 grasshoppers {GryllidcB) — including the genera Gryl- 

 loialpa ; Acheta ; Tridacit/lus ; Gri/llus ; Locusta ; 

 Pneumoia; TruxaUs; Acrj/diu7n; and Tetrix o^ La- 

 treille — are distinguished by incrassated posterior 

 thighs; which however are much longer, more taper- 

 ing and shapely, (they are indeed somewhat clumsy in 

 the two first genera, the crickets,) than those of most 

 of the Coleoptera that are furnished with them. When 

 disposed to leap, these insects bend their hind leg so as 

 to bring the shank into close contact with the thigh — 

 which has often a longitudinal furrow armed with a 

 row of spines on each side, to receive it. The leg being 

 thus bent, they suddenly unbend it with a jerk, when 

 pushing against the plane of position, they spring into 

 the air often to a considerable height and distance. 

 A locust, which however is aided by its wings, it is said 

 will leap two hundred times its own length''. — Aristo- 

 phanes, in order to make the great and good Athenian 

 philosopher, Socrates, appear ridiculous, represents 

 him as having measured the leap of a flea''. In our 

 better times scientific men have done f Ids without being 

 laughed at for it, and have ascertained that, compara- 

 tively, it equalled that of the locust, being also two 

 hundred times its length. Being affected by muscular 

 force, without the aid of wings, this is an astonishing 



' ' Oliv. Entom. ii. 90. /. i. " Swainm. B'lhl. Nal. Ed. Hill, i. 123. b. 



* Aristoph. Nubes, Act. i. Sc.2. 



