NEUROPTERA. 537 
kind of meal, which is dried in the sun, and can be kept for a long time 
without becoming putrid. This substance does not seem very palatable to 
Europeans, but its distastefulness is probably owing to the careless way in 
which the insects are scorched over the fire, as Dr. Livingstone speaks highly 
of the Locust as an article of food, thinking it superior to shrimps. Honey 
is always eaten together with the Locusts, whenever that sweet condiment 
can be obtained, as it serves to render the insects more digestible. Our 
common English grasshoppers belong to the true Locusts. 
1N the accompany ing illustration is represented a LEAF INSECT, one of the 
singular species which have such a wonderful resemblance to fallen leaves. 
‘The peculiar leaf-like elytra may be seen on reference to the engraving as 
also the singular manner in which the limbs are furnished with wiue flattened 
appendages, in order to carry out the leafy aspect. Only the females possess 
the wide, veined wing-covers, those of. the male being comparatively short. 
The wings, however are entirely absent in the female, whilc in the opposite 
sex they are very wide and reach to the extremity of the body. 
THYSANOPTERA. 
THE next order, according to Mr. Westwood’s arrangement, that called 
the Thysanoptera, or Fringe-winged Insects, on account of the manner in 
which the wings are edged with long and delicate cilia. They are all ltle 
insects, seldom exceeding the tenth or twelltth of an inch in length, but, 
although small, are capable of doing considerable damage. They are mostly 
to be found on plants and flowers, especially those blossoms where the petals 
are wide and deep and afford a good shelter. The convolvulus is always a 
great favourite wich them. Greenhouses are sadly liable to their inroads, 
and owing to their numbers they are very injurious to melons, cucumbers, 
and similar plants, covering their leaves with a profusion of decayed patches 
that look as if some powerful acid had been sprinkled over them, Only one 
family of these isects is acknowleded by entomologists. 
NEUROPTERA. 
WE now come to an order of insects containing some of the most beautiful 
and a few of the most interesting members of the class. They are known by 
the possession of four equal-sized membranous wings divived into a great 
number of little cells technicaily called arcolets. The mouth is furnished 
with transversely movable jaws, and the females do. not. possess a.sting or 
valved ovipositor. In this order are comprised the ant-lions, the dragon- 
flies, the termites, the lace-wings, and the. May-flies.. |. - : 
THE first family in Mr. Westwood’s arrangement is that of the Termites, 
popularly known by the name of WHITE ANTS, because they live in vast 
colonies, and in many of their abits display a resemblance to the insect 
from which they take their name. All the Termites are miners. and many of 
them erect edifices of vast dimens’ons when compared with the size of their 
architect. For example, the buildings erected by the Common White Ant 
(Termes bellicosus) will often reach the astonishing heig*t of sixteen or seven- 
teen feet, which in proportion to the size of the insect would be equivalent 
to an edifice a mile in height if built by man. The dwelling is made of clay, 
worked in some marvellous manner by the jaws of the insect-architects ; and 
is of such astonishing hardness, that, although hollow and pierced by 
numerous galleries and chambers, they will sustain the weight of cattle, 
which are in the habit of a-cending these wonderful monuments of insect 
labour for the purpose of keeping a watch on the surrounding country. 
