OKTHOPTERA. 557 



As in the Coleoptera, the prothorax is greatly developed 

 over the other segments, and the mesothorax is rather smaller 

 than the metathoracic ring. The pronotum is very large, 

 broad and flattened above, while the other two segments are 

 concealed by the wings when at rest, and the parts are soft 

 and membranous. The sternum of each ring is very large, 

 broad and flat, resembling that of Libellula, while the two 

 fore pairs of legs are normal in size, though the fore legs are 

 often raptorial, as in Mantis ; or fossorial, as in Gryllotalpa. 

 The hinder pair are enormously developed for leaping purposes. 



The fore wings are generally long and narrow, somewhat 

 thickened, like parchment, or thin, transparent, and more or 

 less rounded, while the hind pair are broad and large, 

 folding in longitudinal plaits on the back. Both wings are 

 net- veined, but not so much so as in the Neuroptera, as the 

 longitudinal veins are larger and more regular, while innumer- 

 able cross veins, still more regular than in the Neuroptera, 

 though more numerous, give a characteristic facies peculiar to 

 the Orthopterous wing. There are also numerous wingless, 

 degraded genera, which resemble the young of other genera. 

 The body is usually much compressed, or greatly flattened 

 (Blattarias), or long and cylindrical, as in the Walking Stick. 

 The abdomen consists of eight or nine distinct segments, while 

 the tenth forms part of the ovipositor, being somewhat abor- 

 ted, the tergite only in some cases remaining, and there is in 

 addition in the Locustarice, according to the views of La- 

 caze-Duthiers, the tergite of an eleventh abdominal ring. We 

 will notice more fully than usual the structure of the ovipositor, 

 as it is of great systematic value. The genital armature is 

 more complex than in the Hymenoptera, and is generally very 

 large and exserted, so as to form- a conspicuous part of the 

 body. In its simplest form, in Forficula, it is represented 

 only by a single tergite, all the other appendages being absent. 

 In the Locus tar ice, however, the typical form is seen, consist- 

 ing of a tergite and the epimera supporting the tergo-rhabdite, 

 while the episternum supports the sterno-rhabdites, and the 

 oviduct opens out under the sternite. There are thus four 

 pieces attached to the single ninth ring ; the oviduct opening 

 between the eighth and ninth segments, while the anal opening 



