ORTHOPTERA. 9 



abdomen with the base of each segment, excepting the terminal one, both 



above and below, broadly black, and punctured, the terminal one with two 



short dusky teeth, immaculate and impunctate ; forceps slightly rufescent, 



the apex and tooth dusky ; legs and antennae very pale. 



This splendid species has hitherto been found only in the vicinity 



of Christchurch, where it occurred once in plenty, and numerous 



examples were secured by the late Rev. W. Bingley, from amongst 



which I have a fine series. Its native origin is questioned by 



Mr. Kirby, in his valuable Introduction to Entomology, from the 



circumstance of other examples not occurring,* but the practical 



entomologist need scarcely be reminded that various insects which at 



one season occur in swarms are not to be found subsequently for a 



long period. 



Order III.— ORTHOPTEHA, Olivier. 



Wings four, unequal, anterior or elytra coriaceous, reticulated with nervures, 

 more or less incumbent, covering the posterior or true wings, the latter 

 longitudinally folded and ample, with reticulated nervures; mouth mandi- 

 bulated ; legs various. Metamorphosis semi-complete. 



The insects of this order, which has been but little attended to in 

 this country, are frequently of very large size ; they may be known 

 from the Dermaptera by having the elytra more or less lapping over 

 at the apex of the suture, and in having their surface reticulated, 

 the wings themselves are only folded longitudinally ; the tibise, at 

 least the posterior, are mostly very spinous; the males have the 

 apex of the abdomen frequently armed with two processes, and the 

 females have frequently a long, exserted, ovipositor : the larva and 

 pupa resemble the imago, are very active and voracious, frequently 

 remain above a year before they vindergo their final change : their 



* In refutation of such an opinion, the sudden appearance of swarms of 

 Endomychus coccineus at Coombe wood, in the autumn of 1816, as noticed in 

 vol. iv. p. 399, may be referred to, since which period only one or two 

 stragglers have been there taken ; as also the apparent disappearance of 

 Cucujus Spartii in the same locality, for which insect, which occurred in 

 profusion there two years since, I sought in vain on the 21st ult. ; as well as 

 the myriads of Thecla W-album at Ripley in 1827 (now apparently again 

 lost, as I have not seen the insect there since), exclusively of numerous other 

 examples that will immediately suggest themselves to the practical entomo- 

 logist. 



Mandibulata, Vol. VI., 31st May, 1835. b 



