ORTHOPTERA. 395 



labials, as in the Coleoptera, present but three. The mandibles are always 

 very strong and corneous, and the ligula is constantly divided into two or four 

 thongs. The form of the antennae varies less than in the Coleoptera, but they 

 are usually composed of a greater number of joints. Several, besides their 

 reticulated eyes, have two or three ocelli. The inferior surface of the first 

 joints of the tarsi is frequently fleshy or membranous. Many females are 

 furnished with a true perforator formed of two blades, frequently enclosed in 

 a common envelope, by means of which they deposit their eggs. The pos- 

 terior extremity of the body, in most of them, is provided with appendages. 



All the known Orthoptera, without exception, are terrestrial, even in their 

 two first states of existence. Some are carnivorous or omnivorous, but the 

 greater number feed on living plants. 



We will divide the Orthoptera into two great families. 



In those which compose the first, all the legs are similar, and only adapted 

 for running, they are the Cursoria or runners. In those which constitute 

 the second, the posterior pair of thighs are much larger than the others, 

 thereby enabling them to leap. Beside this, the males produce a sharp or 

 stridulous noise they are the Saltatoria or jumpers. 



FAMILY I. 



CURSORIA. 



IN this family the posterior legs, as well as the others, are solely adapted for 

 running. Almost all these insects have their elytra and wings laid horizontally 

 on the body ; the females are destitute of a corneous ovipositor. They form 

 three genera : in the first or the 



FORFICULA, Linnaeus, 



There are three joints in the tarsi ; the wings are plaited like a fan, and 

 folded transversely under very short and crustaceous elytra with a straight 

 suture; the body is linear, with two large, squamous, mobile pieces, which 

 form a forceps at its posterior extremity. 



These insects are very common in cool and damp places, frequently collect 

 in troops under stones and the bark of trees, are very injurious to our culti- 

 vated fruits, devour even their dead congeners, and defend themselves with 

 their pincers, which frequently vary in form, according to the sex. It has 

 been thought that they insinuate themselves into the ear, and to this they owe 

 their name of Ear-wigs. 



BLATTA, Linnaeus. 



Cockroaches have five joints to all the tarsi. The wings are only plaited 

 longitudinally, the head is concealed under the plate of the thorax, and the 

 body oval, orbicular and flattened. 



