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THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



Excepting the eyes, which are black, the young cockroach is 

 almost colourless. In general form it resembles the adult, but 

 is devoid of wings in both sexes. Very soon after hatching the 

 skin is moulted for the first time ; it is shed again about a month 

 later, and for the third time at the end of the first year, and sub- 

 sequently once a year only in the warm weather. Immediately 



FlG. 66. Egg-capsule of cockroach. A, side view ; B, cut open ; C, end-on view. 



after each moult the skin is soft and pale, but it soon hardens and 

 assumes a darker tint. Young cockroaches are, however, always 

 paler than adults. It is said that maturity is not attained until the 

 fourth year ; but, in view of the rapid increase of individuals in in- 

 fested places, it is difficult to believe that this is invariably the case. 

 The cockroach itself (Blatta orientalis) is not truly indigenous 

 to this country, but was imported, probably by shipping, in the 

 sixteenth century. Three allied species belonging to the genus 

 Ectobia are, however, natives ; but they are comparatively rare 

 insects, much smaller than the cockroach, and not found about 

 our dwellings. The large American cockroach (Periplaneta 

 americana) is not uncommon in some of the warmer houses at the 

 Zoological Garden, and is probably familiar to many persons. Other 

 insects belonging to the same order are the Grasshoppers, Crickets, 

 and Locusts, in all of which the hind-legs are adapted for leaping, 

 and the Earwigs, which last are dealt with in the next chapter. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. Miall and Denny, The Cockroach ; Cambridge Natural History, 

 vol. v. ; Burr, British Orthoptera ; Latter, The Natural History of some Common 

 Animals ; Marshall and Hurst, Practical Zoology ; Shipley and MacBride, Zoology ; 

 Hatchett Jackson, Forms of Animal Life (Rolleston). 



