ORTIIOPTERA. 411 



the muscular action of the organ. The other two stomachs are placed 

 near the orifice of the intestine. 



Some of these insects (Blattaj) are omnivorous, and others (Man- 

 tidne) carnivorous ; but the majority of them are herbivorous ; and, as 

 vegetable food is less nutritious than matters already animaliscd, a much 

 greater supply is required; whence it follows, in conjunction with 

 their large size and immense numbers, that some of these species are 

 amongst the most voracious, and consequently the most destructive, of 

 the insect tribes : this is especially the case with the locusts. Their 

 powers of propagation are also exceedingly great; so that in some 

 of the warmer quarters of the globe they become perfect pests. 



The transformations of these insects constitute one of the chief 

 characteristics of the order. The larva:; very much resemble the 

 perfect insects, except that they are much smaller, and are destitute 

 of wings : they shed their skins several times. The pupa differs only 

 from the larvae in the possession of short rudimental wings and wing- 

 covers, which, at the first period of this state, are but slightly to be 

 perceived. The insect, in this state, is active and voracious : after the 

 final moulting (ordinarily the sixth) the wings and wing-covers appear 

 of their ordinary size, and the insect possesses all its powers. Many 

 of these insects are eminently musical : this is the case, I believe, 

 throughout the whole of the saltatorial species, including the crickets 

 and grasshoppers, <S:c. 



The order comprises some of the largest of known insects ; some 

 species being eight or ten inches in length, and in the expanse of their 

 wings. Comparatively few species inhabit our own country, the majority 

 being found in the tropics. The large green grasshopper and the mole 

 cricket are amongst the largest of our native insects. It is, however, 

 in the torrid regions of the globe that these insects are found of all 

 the richest colours; the only metallic-coloured species, however, which 

 I hat/e seen, is one of the Mantida?, from Malabar (Metallyticus splen- 

 dens JVesho. Zool. Journ. and Brit Cyclop, pi. Orth. Ins.), 



All the known species of this order are terrestrial. Stoll has, 

 indeed, represented a remarkable insect, under the name of " le 

 grillon aquatique cornu," found " dans des eaux croupissantes," at the 

 Cape of Good Hope ; but I apprehend there is an error in this state- 

 ment. These insects were at first arranged by Linna:us, as well as b}'^ 

 Gcoffroy, with the Coleoptera, from their tegmina covering the hind 

 wings ; and in the later works of the great Swede they were unitetl 



