STRAIGHT-WINGED INSECTS. 253 



Of the Crusader Carrion Beetle ? Of the Big Gravedigger ? Of the 

 Cabinet Beetle ? Of the Wood-eating Beetles ? What is said of the 

 herbivorous Beetles? Of the Spring Beetles? Of the Lightning 

 Spring Beetle? What gives the name to the Capricorn Beetles? 

 What is said of the Painted Capricorn ? Of the Stag Beetle Capri- 

 corn ? Of the Long-armed Capricorn ? Of the Spanish Fly ? What 

 is said of the Curculios ? What of the Palm Weevil ? What of tiw 

 ^eaf -eaters ? 



CHAPTER XXV. 



STRAIGHT-WINGED INSECTS. 



438. THE second order is that of the Orthoptera, or 

 Straight-winged Insects. Their wings, when not in use, 

 are folded lengthwise like a fan, and are extended straight 

 along the top or the sides of the back. These are cover- 

 ed by a pair of thicker wings, or, rather, wing-shaped 

 members, which in the Grasshoppers and the Locusts are 

 long and narrow, and are joined together on the back, 

 making two slopes like the roof of a house. These wing- 

 covers are intermediate between the stiff, horny elytra of 

 the Beetles and the membranous wings of some other 

 insects. 



439. The insects of this order do not go through with 

 a complete metamorphosis. They do not pass at all into 

 the torpid pupa state, but are active during the whole 

 period of their existence. At first they are destitute of 

 wings; but they become winged as they grow, casting 

 off their skins about six times during the process. They 

 are divided into four families: 1. The Cursoria, or Run- 

 ners. 2. The Raptoria, or Graspers. 3. The Ambulato- 

 ria, or Walkers. 4. The Saltatoria, or Jumpers. 



440. The family of Cursoria includes the Cockroaches 

 and the Earwigs. There are with us two kinds of Cock- 

 roaches the native ones, found under stones in the field, 

 and those which have, like the Rats, been introduced 

 from other countries, and live in our houses. These vo 



