302 MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 



these organs, which were twice as long as itself, in all 

 directions, as if by means of them it was exploring every 

 thing that occurred in its vicinity. Many Tipulae, and 

 likewise some mites (Acarus vibrans and Gamasus mota- 

 torius\ distinguished by long anterior legs, from this 

 circumstance denominated pedes mot at or ii by Linne, 

 holding them up in the air impart to them a vibratory 

 motion, resembling that of the antennae of some insects a . 

 I scarcely need mention, what must often have attract- 

 ed your attention, the actions of flies when they clean 

 themselves ; how busily they rub and wipe their head and 

 thorax with their fore legs, and their wings and abdomen 

 with their hind ones. Perhaps you are not equally 

 aware of the use to which the rove-beetles (Staphylinus, 

 L.) put their long abdomen. They turn it over their 

 back not only to put themselves in a threatening attitude, 

 as I lately related b , but also to fold up their wings with 

 it, arid pack them under their short elytra. 



With respect to the motions of insects in action, they 

 may be subdivided, as was just observed, into motions 

 whose object is change of place and sportive motions. 



The locomotions of these animals are walking, running, 

 jumping, climbing, flying, swimming, and burrowing. 

 I begin with the walkers. 



The mode of their walking depends upon the number 

 and kind of their legs. With regard to these, insects 

 may be divided into four natural classes ; viz. Hexapods, 

 or those that have only six legs : such are those of every 

 order except the Aptera of Linne, of which only three 

 or four genera belong to this class. Octopods, or those 



a DC Geer, vi. 335. b See above, p. 234. 



