412 MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 



with the suctorial Hemiptera, from the less firm nature of their 

 wing-covers. It was De Geer who first saw the impropriety of 

 suctorial and biting insects being retained in the same natural order ; 

 and he accordingly separated them as an order ; for which his com- 

 mentator, Retzius, retained the name of Hemiptera, giving that of 

 Dermaptera * to the suctorial species. Olivier, who was probably 

 unaware of the little work of Retzius, proposed the name of Orthop- 

 tera for these mandibulated insects, derived from opOog^ straight, and 

 ■KTipov, a wing, in allusion to the longitudinal folding of the hind 

 wings ; which name has been generally received in preference to that 

 ofUlonataj, given to them by Fabricius. Dr. Leach restricted the 

 order to the Mantidae, Phasmida?, and saltatorial species ; forming 

 the Blattidae into an order, under the name of Dictyoptera, chiefly 

 from the different manner in which the fore wings lap over each other, 

 and the depressed form of the body ; but these differences are really 

 too trivial to be adopted as of primary importance. 



Whilst the relation of the Orthoptera with the Coleoptera, by 

 means of the earwigs, is admitted by all writers, there is also an 

 equally close affinity to be observed between them and the Neurop- 

 tera. The Neuropterous genus (Perla, for instance), and the Or- 

 thopterous Phasmidae, are not far apart in a natural system, there 

 being a very great resemblance in the structure of the mouth, 

 and the nature of their metamorphoses. Mantispa ;]: and Hoplo- 



* I find, whilst this slieet is going through the press, that although De Geer, in his 

 tahle of the orders of insects given in his voh vii. p. 862., did not employ the term 

 Dermaptera (wliich Retzius subsequently applied to the Heteropterous Hemiptera), 

 yet in the body of his work (vol. iii. p. 399.), ^<e had proposed it for Blatta mantis 

 Gryllus Lin. and Forficula. Misled by the misapplication of the name by Retzius, 

 I have employed the name Orthoptera, but that of Dermaptera ought certainly to 

 be used in its stead. My note in p. 21. ante will consequently require revision. 



•f- Mr. Kirby states the derivation of this name to be uncertain (^Introd. \o\.\\. 

 p. 451.) ; suggesting Av\ov as its base ; but it is evident from the character given to 

 the order by Fabricius, "maxillaj covered," that the terra was derived from oZxov 

 gingiva, and j/m9o?. 



:j: This remarkable genus has been alternately treated as Orthopterous and Neu- 

 ropterous by Latreille, in his numerous works. Mr. MacLeay (^Horw Entomol, 

 p. 440.) scarcely conceived it to offer any type of form distinct from Mantis, dif- 

 fering only in its Neuropterous wings, but agreeing in the construction of its 

 mouth, thorax, and feet with Mantis. On dissection, I find, however, that the max- 

 illa?, although bilobed, cannot be called galeated; and that the lower lip is entire, and 

 not quadrifid, as in all the true Orthoptera. The extremity of the body is, also, un- 

 furnished with articulated appendages. Hence, I have no hesitation in regarding it 



