STKAIGHT-WINGED INSECTS. 253 



Of the Crusader Carrion Beetle ? Of the Big Gravedigger ? Of the 

 Cabinet Beetle ? Of the Wood-eating Beetles ? What is said of the 

 herbivorous Beetles? Of the Spring Beetles? Of the Lightning 

 Spring Beetle ? What gives the name to the Capricorn Beetles ? 

 What is said of the Painted Capricorn ? Of the Stag Beetle Capri- 

 corn? Of the Long-armed Capricorn ? Of the Spanish Fly ? What 

 is said of the Curculios ? What of the Palm Weevil ? What of the 

 Leaf-eaters ? 



CHAPTER XXV. 



STRAIGHT-WINGED INSECTS. 



438. THE second order is that of the Orthoptera, or 

 Straight-winged Insects. Their wings, when not in use, 

 are folded lengthwise like a fan, and are extended straight 

 along the top or the sides of the back. These are cover- 

 ed by a pair of thicker wings, or, rather, wing-shaped 

 members, which in the Grasshoppers and the Locusts are 

 long and narrow, and are joined together on the back, 

 making two slopes like the roof of a house. These wing- 

 covers are intermediate between the stiff, horny elytra of 

 .the Beetles and the membranous wings of some other 

 insects. 



439. The insects of this order do not go through with 

 a complete metamorphosis. They do not pass at all into 

 the torpid pupa state, but are active during the whole 

 period of their existence. At first they are destitute of 

 wings ; but they become winged as they grow, casting 

 off their skins about six times during the process. They 

 are divided into four families: 1. The Cursoria, or Run- 

 ners. 2. The Raptoria, or Graspers. 3. The Ambulato- 

 ria, or Walkers. 4. The Saltatoria, or Jumpers. 



440. The family of Cursoria includes the Cockroaches 

 and the Earwigs. There are with us two kinds of Cock- 

 roaches the native ones, found under stones in the field, 

 and those which have, like the Rats, been introduced 

 from other countries, and live in our houses. These vo- 



