ANNULOSA: INSECTA. 219 



thery, and forming elytra; posterior pair of wings mem- 

 branous, folded longitudinally like a fan. 



This order includes the Crickets (Achetina), Grasshoppers 

 (Qryllvna), Locusts (Locustina) , Cockroaches (BlaMina) (Jifj. 

 65), &c. Some of them are formed for running (cursorial), 

 all the legs being nearly equal in size ; whilst in others the 

 first pair of legs are greatly developed, and form powerful rap- 

 torial organs, as in the Mantis. In others, again, as in the 

 Grasshoppers and Crickets, the hindmost pair of legs are 

 greatly elongated, so as to give a considerable power of leaping 

 to them. All the Orthoptera are extremely voracious, and the 

 ravages caused by locusts in hot countries are well known to 

 all. 



ORDER VI. NEUROPTERA. Mouth usually masticatory ; wings 

 four in number, all membranous, generally nearly equal in 

 size, traversed by numerous, delicate nervures, having a longi- 

 tudinal and transverse direction, and giving them a reticulated, 

 lace-like aspect. Metamorphosis generally incomplete, rarely 

 complete. 



This order includes the Dragon-flies (Libellulidce), Caddis- 

 flies (Phryganeidce), Maj^-flies (Ephemeridce),* the Ant-lion. 

 (Myrmeleo), Termites, &c. The last of these, namely, the 

 Termites or White Ants, are social, and live in communities, 

 and their habits are so singular that a short description of them 

 will not be out of place here. They are mostly inhabitants of 

 hot countries, where they are commonly known as 'White 

 Ants,' but it must be borne in mind, that they have nothing to 

 do with the insects commonly called Ants, which belong, in- 

 deed, to a different order (Hymenoptera') . The following 

 account is taken from Mr. Bates's work on the Amazons, 

 where there is an excellent description of the habits of these 

 remarkable insects. 



Termites are small, soft-bodied insects, which live in large 

 communities, as do the true Ants. They differ, however, from 

 the Ants in the fact that the workers are individuals of no 

 fully developed sex, whereas amongst the latter they are unde- 

 veloped females. Further, the neuters of the Termites are 

 always composed of two distinct classes or 'castes:' the 

 workers and the soldiers. Lastly, the Ants undergo a quiescent 

 pupa-stage, whereas the young Termites on their emergence 

 from the egg do not differ from the adult in any respect 

 except in size. 



* By Huxley the Dragon-flies (Libellulida), the May-flies (Ephemeridce}, 

 and the Termites are placed amongst the Orthoptera ; whilst the Caddis- 

 Flies are placed in a separate order under the name of Trichoptera. 



