WINGS OF INSECTS, AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION. 43 



very broad, the outline being rather more than the quarter 



Fig 17 



of a circle. The veins radiate 



from a point in the thickened 



part of the membrane, and the 



wing is packed first by being 



closed together like a fan and 



then transversely folded in two 



places (fig. 17). From this 



complicated double folding is 



derived the name of the order to b. 



which the earwigs belong, viz., c " 



EUPLEXOPTERA (tu, well, TrXfKToc, folded ; irrtpov, wing). 



For figures of Order II., Euplexoptera, see Plate IV. , 

 fig. I. 



To the earwig, the grasshopper, cricket, locust, and cock- 

 roach (or blackbeetle of our kitchen) succeed. Resembling 

 the earwig in the fan-like folding of the hind wing, they 

 differ from it in having no transverse folding (fig. 18), and 



natural size. 

 closed ' 



from this character of the 

 wing is derived the name 

 of the order under which 

 these insects are ranged; 

 namely, Orthoptera, or 

 straight - winged (6p9bs, 

 straight ; nrtpov, a wing.) 

 The fore wings, although 



Fig. 18. 



Wing of Grasshopper (A crida 

 riridissima). 



much thickened, are less thick and horny than those of 

 either the beetles or the earwig, and are useful in flight. 

 And here we come upon a most curious little appara- 

 tus. The merry chirp of the house cricket and of the 

 grasshopper are amongst our most familiar sounds, yet 

 few inquire the nature of the instrument by which the 

 little creature produces its pleasant music. This, the pri- 



