CHAP. XVIII. FAMILIES OF OBTHOPTERA. 121 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



I** A . , 



FAMILIES OF ORTHOPTERA. (Grasshoppers, Crickets, etc.) 

 This Order is usually divided into four Classes, as follows : 



I. RUNNERS (Cursoria). In this Class the body is not 

 greatly elongated, and the legs are fitted for running. 



II. GRASPERS (Raptoria). The insects which belong to 

 this Class have the anterior legs very robust, and fitted for 

 seizing and retaining their prey, which consists of other 

 insects. 



III. WALKERS (Ambulatoria) . These insects have long 

 cylindrical bodies, which are destitute of wings ;* the legs are 

 very long and slender, and the insects are decidedly sluggish 

 in their habits. 



IV. JUMPERS (Saltatoria). These insects have the poste- 

 rior thighs very robust ; they usually move by short jumps 

 or leaps ; the greater number are provided with four wings, 

 but a few species are destitute of these organs. 



I. RUNNERS (Cursoria). 



This Class contains two Families, as follows : 

 EARWIGS (Forficularidas). These insects have a more or 

 less cylindrical body, which is furnished at the tip with a 

 forceps-like appendage ; the wing-cases are very short and 

 meet each other in a straight line on the back ; the hind wings, 

 when not in use t are folded both lengthwise and crosswise, 

 and are concealed beneath the wing-cases. 



These insects (Fig. 41) feed upon various kinds of fruits and 

 flowers ; they deposit their eggs beneath stones, etc., and in a 

 few species the- female broods over them like a hen, until they 

 are hatched. 



COCKROACHES (Blattidai). The insects which belong to this 

 Family have a flattened body, which is destitute of the anal 

 forceps that characterize the insects belonging to the preceding 



* Winged species occur, however, in some tropical countries. 



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