34<4< NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



pical rains, the only time when they voluntarily make 

 their appearance abroad. Although,, probably,, all are of 

 tropical origin, a few species have located themselves in 

 the South of Europe ; but it is to be hoped that the tem- 

 perature of our climate is too variable and cold to suit 

 the constitution of these insects ; and although commerce 

 has imported many evils in concurrence with its bene- 

 fits, we heartily deprecate the possible introduction of 

 such unwelcome guests. Other allied forms, but which 

 are not social in their habits, are found in Embia and 

 Olyniha. 



(304.) The last sub-family of this first circle, the 

 Rhaphidiince, have, in the structure of some of its con- 

 stituents, a direct intimation of the proximity of the 

 next circle ; for the genus Mantispa, with its lengthened 

 neck, and raptorial anterior legs, is a complete resem- 

 blance of Mantis itself. It has short clavate antennae ; 

 but the elongated neck is also the characteristic of the 

 family, for the genus Rhaphidia, of which it is besides 

 formed, likewise possesses it in a remarkable degree. 

 The latter insect, in its larva state, is very voracious, 

 preying upon every other insect it can seize upon ; it 

 occurs chiefly in woods, upon the stems of oaks. The 

 genus is as yet known only as European, and all the 

 recorded species we possess in this country. Of Man- 

 tispa, the greatest number of species appears to occur 

 in America, although it is found all over the world ex- 

 cepting New Holland. Some of the species seem to 

 indicate a strong affinity, in the structure of their wings, 

 to the genuine Orthoptera, the anterior half of those 

 organs being occasionally semi-coriaceous, which is a 

 departure from the otherwise exclusively membrana- 

 ceous structure of these limbs throughout the circle 

 before us. 



(305.) We now enter the family of the GRYLLID^E ; 

 the first sub-family of which, the Mantinte, contains 

 two very different types of form, namely, Mantis 

 and Phasma. Their habits differ as much as their 

 structure : the latter being herbivorous _; whereas th$ 



