58 POPULAE ENTOMOLOGY. 



destitute of a sting; the difference in their appearance is 

 obvious. There are about a dozen British species, some of 

 which will be mentioned hereafter. 



As one of the Crickets may be both heard and seen about 

 this time, the family of which it is a member, and those to 

 which it is allied, claim our attention, as they are often con- 

 fused with each other by the inexperienced. There are three 

 families in this group of insects, named by Leach, Aclietida, 

 Gryltida, and Locmtida. The first includes the Crickets, of 

 which Aclieta domestica, or the common House-Cricket, is an 

 example ; the second, those Grasshoppers which have long 

 antennae, such as the Gryllus viridissimws, green Grasshop- 

 per ; and the third, those with short antennae, as the Locusta 

 miffratoria, the well-known destructive Locust. These fa- 

 milies may also be distinguished by their wings : in AcJie- 

 tidtz, the wings and wing-covers are held horizontally when 

 at rest ; in Gryltida, the wings are deflexed (bent down), 

 the mandibles are also not so much toothed ; the Locwtida 

 have the wings also deflexed, but then they are known by 

 their short antennae. To this family belong a number of 

 small species, very commonly found in grass, and to which 

 the familiar name of Grasshopper is given. 



I shall now enter a little more into detail respecting the 



