MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 209 



of form among certain species. This section in- 

 cludes our familiar merry little friend, the Cricket 

 (Acheta domestical the Mole-cricket (Gryllotalpa 

 vulgaris), with its broad, burrowing fore-feet ; and 

 that joyous chorister, the Grasshopper, with his less 

 agreeable consimilars, the Migratory - Locusts, so 

 notorious for their devastating powers, and the vast 

 swarms in which they sometimes appear. These 

 latter are herbivorous, the Mantidce are predatory 

 and carnivorous, while the Crickets and Cockroaches 

 are indiscriminate devourers. 



III. OKDER — Straight-winged Insects (Orthoptera). 



Fore-wings large, coriaceous, thickly- veined, over- 

 lapping at tips; hind -wings large, membranous, 

 thickly netted, folded longitudinally ; mouth with 

 transversely moveable jaws, the hind pair galeated ; 

 tail often styliferous. Pupa active, semi-complete, 

 with rudimentary wings. Chiefly herbivorous ; ter- 

 restrial; 



I. SUB-ORDER. — Running-Orthoptera (Cursoria). 



Legs long, compressed, formed for running ; wings 



horizontal ; fore-legs not raptorial. 



1. Family. — Cockroaches (Blattidae). Antennae very 

 long, setaceous, many-jointed ; mandibles 

 strong, horny, toothed at tip ; upper lip en- 

 tire ; eyes kidney-shaped ; ocelli obsolete ; 

 body flattened, oval ; thorax large, shield- 

 shaped, concealing head ; legs long, com- 

 pressed ; tibiae with spines and spurs ; ab- 



