ORTHOPTERA, 11 
FAMILY IL. 
SALTATORIA. 
The posterior legs of the Insects which compose our second 
family of the Orthoptera, are remarkable for the largeness of 
their thighs, and for their spinous tibie, which are adapted 
for saltation. 7 
The males summon their mates by a stridulous noise, vul- 
garly termed singing. This is sometimes produced by rapidly 
rubbing against its antagonist an interior and more membranous 
portion of each elytron which resembles a piece of tale. Its 
sometimes excited by a similar motion of their posterior thighs 
upon the elytra and wings, acting like the bow of a violin. 
The greater number of the females deposit their eggs in 
the earth. 
This family is composed of the genus 
Grytuus, Lin. 
Which we will divide thus: 
In some species where the musical instrument of the males consists 
of an interior portion of their elytra resembling a mirror or head of 
a drum, and where the females frequently have ar extremely salient — 
ovipositor, in the form of a stylet or sabre, we find antenne either 
more slender and minute at the extremity, or of equal thickness 
throughout, but very short and almost resembling a chaplet. The 
elytra and wings, in those few which have less than four joints to all 
the tarsi, are laid horizontally on the body.’ The ligula is always 
quadripartite, the two middle divisions beivg very small. The la- 
brum is entire. 
Sometimes the elytra and wings are ner zontal; the wings, when at 
rest, form a kind of fillet or thong extended beyond the elytra, and 
the tarsi have but thee joints, as in the genus 
Gryiius, Geoff. Oliv.—.Acheta, (Gryllus acheta, Lin.) Fab. 
* 
They conceal themselves in holes, and usually feed on Insects. Se- 
