HALF-WINGED INSECTS 863 



kept alive for many days upon fresh tufts of grass, all which tiiLe 

 it will continue to shine in the dark. 



The light of this diminutive insect is so strong, that if it is 

 confined in a thin pill-box, even though lined with paper, the light 

 will shine through. 



In the daytime this creature appears dead and sluggish, and 

 if taken into a dark room it shows nothing of its light, unless it is _ 

 turned on its back and disturbed. Soon after sunset its light and 

 activity return. It never shines but when it is in motion. 



II. — HALF-WINGED INSECTS. 



These are so named because the wing cases are not of uni- 

 form texture throughout, the upper half of, which is thick and 

 opaque, while the extremities terminate with a membranous edge, 

 resembling in substance the under pair. The wings cover the body 

 horizontally, and do not meet in a straight line or ridge as they do 

 in the beetles. This order of insects undergo only a demi-meta- 

 morphosis; being produced from eggs in a wingless condition 

 The Cicadas, however, are an exception, as they live in the ground 

 frequently for years in the larva state. In this order are included 

 the locust, cricket, grasshopper, cockroach, scale insect, plant-lice, 

 and many kinds of bugs. 



The Locust. — As to size, the common brown locust is 

 about three inches in length ; its antennae are two in number and 

 about an inch long, and it is provided with two pairs of wings. 

 This is necessary from its weight and the immense distance through 

 the sky which it is sometimes destined to travel. The head and 

 horns are brown, and also the uppeil side of the body and upper 

 wings, the former, in addition, spotted with black, and the latter 

 with dusky spots. In general form and appearance there is a con- 

 giderable resemblance to the grasshopper so well known in this 

 country. What is not the case with other insects, the males are 

 much more numerous than the females. The males only make a 

 noise, which is produced by a quick vibration of the wings against 

 each other, or against their legs. It is very singular that the 

 nyrnpha, or worm, of the locust, differs very little from the locust 



