82 TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



and have thick and powerful thighs. As compared with 

 the Mantidae and Phasmidae, which are amongst the 

 most distinct of any subdivisions of the Insecta, these 

 families are much more intimately allied. Technically, 

 they are known as Acridiidse and Locustidae ; but, 

 unfortunately, there is a certain amount of confusion 

 between the scientific and common names, the latter 

 not corresponding in their application with the family 

 limits. The names Grasshopper and Locust are almost 

 synonymous. Not only in a popular sense, but even by 

 scientists, the word " grasshopper " is applied at one 

 time to the true locusts or to the various species that 

 constitute the Acridiidse, and at another to species 

 belonging to the Locustidae; "grasshopper," in fact, is 

 a collective term used to include most of the species of 

 two different families. Notwithstanding this difficulty 

 in applying the popular name, the distinctions between 

 the insects composing the families are readily recognized. 

 Briefly stated, while the Locustidae are usually found 

 on the grass, bushes, and trees, and have very long 

 thread-like antennae, generally longer than the body, and 

 the tarsi four-jointed ; Acridiidae includes those species 

 which generally reside on the ground, they have antennae 

 of less than thirty joints, never exceeding the body in 

 length, and the feet or tarsi short, with three distinct 

 joints. With the Acridiidae we commence our con- 

 sideration of the Saltatoria. 



