BRITISH INSECTS 



highly recommended as " pets," and the Mantids 

 {Family Mantidce), and this brings us to the Cock- 

 roaches, which constitute the Family Blatiidce. Some 

 species of Cockroaches have \\ings, others are %^-ingless 

 in both sexes. In others again, as in our own Common 

 Cockroach {Blatta orie?italis, Fig. 5) only the male has 



flight appendages. The flat, dark, chocolate-coloured 

 bodv and the long antennas of this so-called " Black 

 Beetle" are well known. It resorts to houses (especially 

 bakehouses and similar warm places), and comes from its 

 hiding at night. Other kinds are found along the 

 countr}-side far removed from habitations, but are much 

 smaller in size. It need hardly be pointed out that, 

 belonging to the OrtJioptera, they are not Beetles {Coleop- 

 tera) and although some bear a strong resemblance 

 to the latter, it is incorrect to classify, or refer to them 

 as such. The female Cockroach has a capsule, or 

 purse, on the extremity of her body, and in this recep- 

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