42 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
of the labium, and 3-jointed ; the basal joint being very short, and 
the other two of equal length, being nearly as long as the antenne ; 
the internal lingua is distinct and membranous; the prothorax is 
smaller than the head, and transverse ; the two other segments form 
an oval mass; the wings are large, and densely reticulated, and often 
coloured, with a strong vein, which is furcate at about one fifth of 
the length of the wing from the base ; they are of nearly equal size, 
and are deflexed at the sides of the body when at rest ; the pos- 
terior pair not being folded; the legs are of moderate size, with 
5-jointed tarsi ( fig.63.6.); the abdomen is very long and cylindric, 
often terminated by a pair of long slender inarticulated appendages. 
These beautiful insects, in the delicate reticulation of their wings, 
vie with the dragon flies, whilst their habits render them equally 
interesting ; it is, however, in their larva state, that they have at- 
tracted the greatest share of attention, as in the perfect state they 
fly but little, keeping during the day amongst the leaves of trees 
and plants, and coming abroad only at dusk; indeed, Mr. Guilding 
states that after a long-continued search he never found a single 
imago in a state of liberty, although the larve swarmed in St. Vin- 
cent’s, so successfully are they secured from every enemy by their 
peculiar mode of resting, and the favourable colour of their bodies. 
The larva * is of aform totally unlike the imago, being short, thick, 
and fleshy (fig. 63.9.) ; the sides furnished with numerous bundles 
of short rigid hairs; the head and prothorax narrow ; and the meso- 
and meta-thorax and abdomen forming a very large oval mass, so as 
to bear a considerable resemblance to a spider ; the head is oblong, 
with six tubercular eyes on a short footstalk (fig. 63. 13.) on each side ; 
the head is attached to the prothorax by membrane capable of great 
distention and motion; the antenne are very short, slender, and mul- 
tiarticulate, arising from a thickened base (jig. 63. 14.) ; the mandi- 
bles are longer than the head, very slender, and curved, forming a 
pair of toothed calippers, wherewith the insect seizes its prey. On the 
under side they are grooved, and within this groove the maxilla, which 
are still more slender, are placed, and in which they play backwards 
and forwards; there appear to be no rudiments of maxillary palpi; 
the lower lip is short, and furnished with a pair of 4-jointed palpi, of 
which the basal joint is large and ovate, and the three terminal joints 
slender (fig. 63. 10. represents the under side of the head of the larva, 
* Donoyan (Nat. Misc., pl. 139.) has described the larva as an apterous female. 
