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ORDER II. THYSANURA.* 



THE animals of this small Order, the first of Insects 

 proper, have but six feet, and no wings, the extremity 

 of the body being furnished with bristles. Some of 

 our readers may have occasionally seen a little silvery 

 creature running swiftly when disturbed from cre- 

 vices in the woodwork of houses, or under damp 

 boards, with long bristles behind, extended in form 

 of a trident. This is the Lepisma^ Saccharina ; its 

 body is not more than half an inch long, of a bluish 

 silvery hue, covered with minute scales, which come 

 off on the finger, if touched. It probably feeds on 

 decaying matters. 



The other genus, for the Order contains but two, 

 is a group of much more singular creatures: from 

 the use of the tail bristles, they are usually denomi- 

 nated Spring-tails (Poduraf). They are very small 

 Insects, with soft bodies ; the tail ends in two bristles, 

 which can be bent under the belly, the position in 

 which they are usually carried ; when the Insect 

 wishes to leap, it throws these bristles suddenly out, 

 which, striking the ground, act as a spring, forcing 

 the Insect to some height in the air. It usually falls 

 on its back, and at the moment of alighting, the 

 bristles may be seen extending straight from the 



* Bva-uvoi, thysanoi, bristles, and a^a, owra, the tail. 



*f- At-riff/aa, lepisma, a scale. 



J Uov;, pous, a foot, and ofya, owra, the tail. 



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