ORTHOPTERA. 



CHAPTEK I. 

 BLATTIBM. 



There are two orders of insects which have several character- 

 istics in common, and which, in many instances, bear so close an 

 external resemblance to each other, that a beginner in ento- 

 mology is nearly certain to confuse them together. These are 

 the Orthoptera and the Heteroptera, the Grasshoppers being 

 familiar examples of the former, and the Water Boatmen of 

 the latter. The word Orthoptera, which stands at the head of 

 this chapter, signifies "straight wings," and is given to the 

 insects because the wings are, when closed, laid straight along 

 the body, and, though they must be folded longitudinally to 

 enable them to be packed under the elytra, are not folded trans- 

 versely as is the case with the Earwigs and Beetles. The elytra, 

 if we may retain the name, are of a parchment-like consistence, 

 and, when closed, cross each other at the tips. 



Now, if the structure of the wings were the only mark of 

 distinction, there would be some difficulty in separating the 

 Orthoptera from the Heteroptera. But the structure of the 

 mouth is so radically different in these two orders, that the 

 merest glance is sufficient to prevent any confusion between 

 them. In the latter of these orders the mouth is formed for 

 suction, and the insect is furnished with a sharp proboscis, 

 whereas in the former the mouth is formed for eating, and is 

 furnished with powerful jaws. 



It is evident from the name which is given to these insects, 

 that most of them are winged, though there are some species 

 which possess scarcely the least rudiments of wings. In those 



