244 



MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY. 



pair smaller than the posterior, coriaceous or leathery, and 

 forming elytra; posterior pair of wings membranous, folded 

 longitudinally like a fan. 



This order includes the Crickets (Achetina), Grasshoppers 

 (Gryllind), Locusts (Locnstina\ Cockroaches (Blattina, fig. 85), 

 &c. Some of them are formed for running (cursorial], all the 

 legs being nearly equal in size ; whilst in others the first pair of 

 legs are greatly developed, and form powerful raptorial organs, 

 as in the Mantis. In others, again, as in the Grasshoppers and 

 Crickets, the hindmost pair of legs are greatly elongated, so 

 as to give a considerable power of leaping to them. All the 

 Orthoptera are extremely voracious, and the ravages caused by 

 locusts in hot countries are well known to all. 



ORDER VI. NEUROPTERA. Mouth usually masticatory ; 



wings four in number, all 

 membranous, generally near- 

 ly equal in size, traversed by 

 numerous delicate nervures, 

 having a longitudinal and 

 transverse direction, and giv- 

 ing them a reticulated, lace- 

 like aspect. Metamorphosis 

 generally incomplete, rarely 

 complete. 



This order includes the Dra- 

 gon-flies (Libelhtlidcz), Caddis- 

 flies (Phryganeida), May-flies 

 (Ephcmcrida)? the Ant-lion 

 (MyrmeUo), Termites, &c. 

 The last of these namely, the 

 Termites or White Ants are 

 social, and live in communi- 

 ties, and their habits are so singular that a short description of 

 them will not be out of place here. They are mostly inhabit- 

 ants of hot countries, where they are commonly known as 

 " White Ants;" but it must be borne in mind that they have 

 nothing to do with the insects commonly called Ants, which 

 belong, indeed, to a different order (Hymenoptera). The follow- 

 ing account is taken from Mr Bates's work on the Amazons, 

 where there is an excellent description of the habits of these 

 remarkable insects. 



Termites are small, soft-bodied insects, which live in large 



Fig. 86. Neuroptera. Aphis-lion (Heme 

 robiicUe), imago, larva, and eggs. 



* By Huxley the Dragon-flies (Libelluttdtz\ the May-flies 

 and the Termites are placed amongst the Orthoptera ; whilst the Caddis- 

 flies are placed in a separate order under the name of Trichoptera. 



