3 H2 



THE JOINTED ANIMALS 



strongly-developed hind-legs, adapted for leaping, and the Cursoria, in which the 

 hind-legs are not thus developed, but are better fitted for use in running and walk- 

 ing. The saltatoria, or junipers, are sometimes spoken of as the Musical Orthop- 

 tera, since nearly all these insects, such as crickets, grasshoppers and locusts, are 

 noted for the loud chirping sounds which the males produce. The females are sup- 

 posed to be attracted by the chirping of the males; they seldom emit any sound 

 themselves, and when they do it is generally of a very feeble character. It is prob- 

 able that most insects can hear, but by what means they do so is, in the majority of 

 cases, to a great extent a matter of conjecture. The Saltatorial Orthoptera are, 

 however, remarkable in possessing very definite organs of hearing, which, though 

 occupying a different position, are functionally comparable to the ears of higher 

 animals. 



The crickets (Gryllidce) which form the first family of the suborder, 

 have a somewhat rounded head, supporting long whip-like antennae. 

 Their mandibles are strong and toothed; the inner lobe of the maxillae being devoid 



Crickets 



1-4. FIELD CRICKET (Gryllus campestris} (1) male, (2) female, (3 and 4) young and old larvae; 5. MALE OF THE 



HOUSE CRICKET (Gryllus domesttcus). 



of teeth, and the outer one long and slender. The fore-wings, or elytra, do not 

 differ from one another in structure, and, and when at rest, are closely applied to 

 the somewhat thick and massive hind-body. The hind-wings are folded many 

 times, and may generally be seen projecting beyond the tips of the elytra. The 

 hind-legs are generally used in jumping, while the other two pains are better 

 adapted for walking, although in the mole crickets the fore-legs are thickened 

 and otherwise modified for use in burrowing. The tarsi of all the legs are com- 

 posed of either two or three joints. The abdomen bears near the tip two flexible, 

 velvety appendages, which are sometimes very long; and in the females it usually 

 carries also a long exserted ovipositor. The chirping of crickets is produced by 

 rubbing the base of one elytron over the other; in which respect these insects differ 

 from most grasshoppers and locusts, and resemble only those grasshoppers with long 

 antennse, which belong to the family Locustidce. They resemble the latter also in 

 having their organs of hearing placed on the fore-legs. These organs are lodged in 

 the upper part of the tibise, a little below their articulation with the femora, and 

 consist externally of two small depressions or pits on opposite sides of each tibia, 



