94 



FIELD ZOOLOGY. 



came northward into the States from Mexico. Aside from 

 this species, our other native roaches live around wood 

 piles or under the bark of trees or old stumps, or other 

 out-of-door convenient hiding-places, from which to set 

 out on their foraging trips. (Fig. 41.) 



The mouth-parts of the roaches are fitted for masti- 

 cating dry, hard substances. The jaws are strong and 



toothed, and the insect appreciates 

 especially hard bread or crackers, 

 or dried bits of the lunch that you 

 did not eat up. Failing these 

 things, he will be quite happy to 

 regale himself on the leather bind- 

 ing of your Shakespeare, or your 

 winter coat, wall paper, or the 

 paste of book bindings if he can 

 get into your bookcase. 



Fig. 41.— Common native The COckroach body is flat- 



cockroach /..W^^er pennsyi- ^^^^^ ^^^ smooth, and the 



vamca. ^Kellogg, after Lugger; ■' 



natural size indicated by a line.) legs are adapted for swift running, 



altogether making it an insect 

 hard to catch. If you have not tried catching one, test 

 the truth of the statement. The insect has no trouble in 

 concealing itself in a crack or a crevice. The eggs are 

 laid in small cases which are carried about by the mother 

 until the young are ready to hatch. The young, as soon 

 as they are hatched, begin to run about and take care of 

 themselves ; but they grow slowly, taking nearly a year to 

 acquire adult size. 



The praying mantids are long, slender-bodied insects, 

 with the curious habit of raising their large front legs up 

 in front of their faces while they stare about them, meek 

 and motionless of aspect. In fact they are watching for 



