236 INSECTS AT HOME. • 



section is the Ambulatoria, or walkers, such as the Walking- 

 stick insects; and the last section is the Saltatoria, or jumpers, 

 such as the Grasshoppers and their kin. 



The iirst section is represented in England by one genus 

 only — namely, Blatta — and, considering the nature of the 

 cursorial Orthoptera, we may be glad that they have no more 

 representatives in this country. In these insects the body is 

 rather oval and flat, the thorax is very large and shield-shaped, 

 the head being almost concealed under it, and the antennae are 

 very long and thread-like. The males are fully winged, while 

 in the females both wings and elytra are much smaller than in 

 the male, and in some species are altogether absent. There 

 are several species of Cockroach in this country, some of which 

 are indigenous, while others have evidently been imported. 



Such is the case with the Domestic Cockroach (Blatta 

 oricntalis), which has completely taken possession of England. 

 As far as is known it was originally imported from the Levant, 

 and at first was confined to seaport towns. The climate, 

 however, suited it, and so did the prevalence of kitchen fires, 

 which are allowed to smoulder through the greater portion of the 

 night, thus affording the requisite supply of warmth. As for 

 moisture, which is as necessary to the insects as warmth, the 

 drippings of the kitchen boiler are generally sufficient for the 

 purpose. However this may be, the insects have spread them- 

 selves over England in a manner which is really wonderful, 

 considering that the female is wingless, and must therefore be 

 transported by other means of locomotion than her own limbs 

 can supply. 



That the Cockroach should spread over London is easy to 

 understand. London is a seaport town, and the insect could 

 therefore establish itself firmly enough by the water-side, and 

 afterwards make its way to different parts of the metropolis, a 

 task in which it is greatly assisted by the laundress and her 

 basket. Innocently and ignorantly the laundress is one of the 

 principal agents in the dispersion of the Cockroach. Her 

 washhouse, with its perpetual fire and water, is a very paradise 

 for the Cockroach, which multiplies therein exceedingly, 

 keeping itself hidden during the day, according to the wont 

 of these light-hating insects. The laundress, having made up 

 her basket of linen, goes off to her well-earned rest ; and as 



