WINGS OF INSECTS. 55 



wanting. The term wing cases is quite appropriate, 

 so far as function is considered ; but it is important to 

 know that these wing cases in beetles occupy the 

 same place, and are jointed in the same manner, as 

 the first pair of wings in bees. 



The leathery wings of locusts, crickets, and grass- 

 hoppers, and the half leathery wings of tree bugs, 

 and some other insects, are also similar in their rela- 

 tive situation to the first pair of wings in bees. 



In the base of this first pair of wings, there are 

 found in the common fly, some beetles, and other 

 insects, a pair of small scaly members, dependent on 

 the larger wings, and appropriately termed winglets( 1 ). 

 It is a mistake to consider these apart from the wings, 

 for they are always jointed into the back plate of the 

 mid corselet, never into the hind corselet, and united 

 at the base to the wing ; and often the separation of 

 one of them from the wing cannot be traced. It is 

 sometimes double, that is, two to each wing, like 

 a bivalve shell. It does not, as has been supposed, 

 produce the buzzing of flies. 



The second pair of wings ( 2 ) are always, like the first 

 pair, jointed with the back plate and upper flanks of 

 the hind corselet. They are in most respects similar 

 to the first pair, as in the joint pieces, which are only 

 six instead of seven, the ribs, the areas, and the parts 

 of the circumference. 



It is worthy of remark that, except in dragon flies, 

 earwigs, some beetles, and a few other insects, 

 they are commonly much smaller than the first pair, 

 but in all cases, following the law of proportional rela- 

 tion, to the parts of the corselet upon which they are 

 jointed. 



In the common fly, and others similarly constructed, 

 there arises exactly from the same part of the hind 



, (1) In Latin, Alulae. (2) In Latin, Aloe posterior es. 



