122 NATURAL HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



Family. In some species both sexes are wingless in the adult 

 state ; in others the males are provided with wings, while the 

 females have these organs greatly aborted ; in still others, both 

 sexes are furnished with wings. 



These insects are nocturnal in their habits, and are occa- 

 sionally very troublesome about the kitchen, etc. The female 

 deposits her eggs in a large elongated brown capsule or pod, 

 each capsule containing about thirty eggs, arranged in two 

 rows. 



II. GRASPERS (Raptoria). 



This Class is composed of the Mantis-Family (Mantidae, 

 Fig. 142) ; they are the only insects belonging to this Order 

 which are beneficial. They deposit their eggs in masses of a 

 hundred or more (Fig. 308); fastening them to the twigs of 

 trees or to other objects. 



Fig. 308. 



III. WALKERS (Ambulatoria'). 



This Class includes the single Family of Walking-sticks 

 (Phasmidas). The insects feed upon the leaves of plants, and 

 sometimes occur in destructive numbers. The females scatter 

 their eggs indiscriminately upon the ground beneath them. 



IV. JUMPERS (Saltatoria). 



This Class comprises three Families, as folllow : 



CRICKETS (Gryllidse). These insects have a more or less 



cylindrical body, and the anterior or upper wings are bent 



downward abruptly at the sides, although in a few species the 



wings are entirely wanting. 



The Mole-crickets have the anterior pair of legs very robust 



and flattened at the outer end ; they are provided with wings, 



