ZOOLOGY. 



small size. These are the little chirpers which 

 we hear on heaths and sunny banks. The Achetida 



Female Grasshopper (Gryllus viridissimus}. 



(Cricket family) are a very noisy race; for the 

 chirping of the House-cricket (Acheta domestica), 

 produced by the rubbing of the elytra-cases against 

 each other, can be heard at a considerable dis- 

 tance. The Field-cricket (A. campestris) and 

 Mole-cricket (Gryllotalpa vulgaris) also belong to 

 this family. The section Cursoria have the legs 

 long, and suited for running. The Mantina have 

 the fore-legs converted into powerful raptorial 

 organs. They are carnivorous, and very pugna- 

 cious. The Chinese amuse themselves with their 

 combats, keeping them for this purpose in cages. 

 The Blattina (Cockroaches) are nocturnal insects, 

 which infest kitchens and bakehouses. The 

 Common Cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is too well 

 known to require description. The Forficulida 

 (Ear-wigs) are likewise placed in this section. 



ORDER 6. Neuroplera (Nerve-wing) have four 

 membranous wings, which are reticulated or inter- 

 laced with a delicate network of fine nervures. 

 Metamorphosis in some is complete, though in 

 most it is incomplete. The Libellulida (Dragon- 

 flies) are slender in form, and beautiful and varied 

 in their colouring, though very voracious in their 

 habits. They have four large, nearly equal retic- 

 ulated wings, and a powerful masticatory apparatus. 

 Their larvae and pupae inhabit the water. The 

 Ephemerida (May-flies), also called Day-flies, from 

 the short duration of their life in the perfect state, 

 are found, during autumn and summer, in every 



May-fly (Ephemera vulgata} Larva, Pupa, and Imago. 



brook and pond. The Termitidce (White Ants) 

 are social insects, living in vast communities, 

 and chiefly confined to warm climates. They con- 

 struct most beautiful habitations either on the 

 ground or on trees, and assist in the removal 

 of dead and decomposing organic matter. The 

 Myrmeleontida or Ant-lions, whose larvae are so 

 destructive to ants, live, in the perfect state, upon 

 the nectar of flowers. The larvae entrap their 



prey by excavating conical pits in sandy places, 

 at the bottom of which they conceal themselves 

 entirely, with the exception of the head and power- 

 ful jaws. When an unfortunate ant or other insect 

 falls into this pit-fall, it is soon devoured by the 

 voracious myrmelio. 



SUB-CLASS in. Metabolavn. which the meta- 

 morphosis is ' complete.' It includes six orders. 



ORDER 7. Aphaniptera includes the Common 

 Flea (Pulex irritans). The wings are rudimentary, 

 and represented by four scales. The mouth is 

 suctorial, and its power to penetrate the human 

 skin, for gastronomic purposes, is too well known. 



ORDER 8. Diptera have only a single pair of 

 wings developed namely, the anterior ; the pos- 

 terior pair being rudimentary, and represented by 

 organs called ' halteres ' or ' balancers.' The mouth 

 is suctorial The Hippoboscidce (Horse-flies or 

 Forest-flies) are parasitic upon other animals. 

 Hippobosca equina infests the horse, and Melo- 

 phagus ovinus is the Sheep-tick. Amongst the 

 Muscidce, or Flies, the most familiar species is the 

 Musca domestica (House-fly), whose larvae are bred 

 in manure, and undergo their change in a few days. 

 Their purpose is to consume substances which would 

 taint the atmosphere. They possess the power 

 of flying backward. The Tabanida or Gad-flies 

 have a suctorial mouth, provided with six lancets, 

 with which they pierce the skin of their victim. 

 The Cleg (Tabanus phimalis) is familiar to most 

 of us. Many of the Tipulidce (Water-spinners), in 

 their larval condition, are very destructive to the 

 roots of grass and to wheat-crops. The Cidicida: 



Gnat, magnified : 



i. insect depositing eggs; 2, insect escaping from pupa cas; 

 3, larva of gnat ; 4, floating raft of eggs. 



(Gnats) are specially blood-thirsty, and the dis- 

 agreeable effects of their bite are frequently enough 

 experienced. Their larvae are aquatic. The Mos- 

 quitoes of warm climates interfere so much with 

 our ease and comfort as to become one of the 

 worst of pests. The Midge, so well known for its 

 aerial dances, is the smallest species of the family. 

 ORDER 9. Lepidoptera (Gr. scaly - winged), 

 Moths and Butterflies. The structure of the 

 mouth has been described already. The wings, 

 four in number, are covered by minute scales, 

 which are implanted on the membrane of the 

 wing like the tiles on a roof. The beautiful 

 metallic colouring which occurs in many species 

 of this order is not due to the presence of pig- 

 ment, but is owing to these minute scales having- 



