216 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



rarely pectinated or knobbed ; fore wings mostly parch- 

 ment-like in texture, and wholly unfitted and unused for 

 flight, generally much smaller than the hind wings, and 

 sometimes reduced to very narrow lamina? or entirely want- 

 ing (Phasmidne) ; hind wings ample, folded longitudinally in 

 many plaits like a fan ; pro-thorax, the largest segment of 

 the trunk, often of preposterous size (Blatta, Gnjllotalpa, 

 Mantis, Tetrix) ; abdomen generally provided with articu- 

 lated setse, or filiform appendages, and in many with a 

 prominent ovipositor. 



" NEUROPTERA. Many of them aquatic in the larva and 

 pupa states ; transformation various, the pupse of some be- 

 ing quiescent, and in all bearing very little resemblance to 

 the perfect insects ; parts of the mouth, in many adult or 

 winged species, rudimentary, soft, and apparently unfitted for 

 taking food; in others they vary in structure, but are often 

 less complete even than those of the larva? ; labial palpi ob- 

 solete in some ; head generally free, often versatile, and rare- 

 ly immersed above in the pro-thorax ; antennae sometimes 

 very short (Ephemera, Libellulada), moniliform, filiform, se- 

 taceous, pectinated or knobbed at end ; fore wings usually 

 as large as or larger than the hind wings, alike to them in 

 texture, and equally fitted and used for flight ; hind wings 

 often smaller than the fore wings, sometimes entirely want- 

 ing, never folded in numerous plaits when at rest; pro- 

 thorax (except in Corydalis, Raphidia, and Mantispd) the 

 smallest section of the trunk, oftentimes reduced to a mere 

 ring ; meso-thorax the largest segment ; abdomen some- 

 times with setaceous appendages. 



" The highly reticulated wings of the Libellulne, Myrrne- 

 leontidoe, and some of the Perladre, which may be regarded 

 as typical genera, together with the varied and mixed na- 

 ture of the transformations, have always justly been regard- 

 ed by the most distinguished French and English entomol- 

 ogists as forming the most peculiar characteristics of this 

 order. In the higher instincts and varied economy of many 

 of the Neuroptera we shall find another ground for distin- 

 guishing them from the Orthoptera. I need only allude to 

 the labors of the Termites, the artistical skill of the Phry- 

 ganeadas in the construction of their habitations, and the 

 faculties and habits of the Myrmeleontidse and Hemero- 

 biadce, with all the various stratagems employed by the 



