256 THE BUTTERFLY VIVARIUM. 



as to feed upon the bodies of other insects while in 

 the larva or imperfect state. Among insects living 

 in societies, these helpless larvse are sometimes 

 tended by the neuters, as among Ants and some 

 kinds of Bees. This order formerly made part of 

 Neuroptera, but Linnaeus separated it, under the 

 title of " Gymnoptera," or " naked-wings," a term 

 which he subsequently abandoned in favour of the 

 present name. 



8. The order Strepsiptera consists, as the name 

 implies, of insects having obsolete anterior wings, 

 and large rounded posterior ones. They are a 

 small and inconspicuous class. 



9. The order Lepidoptera follows, which has been 

 sufficiently described in Chapters VII. and VIII. 



10. The order Homoptera contains a class of 

 insects with clear wings, the anterior pair of which 

 is larger than the posterior. Among this group of 

 insects many singular forms occur. In European 

 species, the musical Cicadcc, those curious and some- 

 times frightful-looking Lobster-headed Plies, whose 

 pleasing song or chirp has been so often described 

 by the Latin poets. The song of these creatures is. 

 said to be produced by a distended internal mem- 

 brane, acted upon by powerful muscles, the sound 

 issuing through two small apertures situated near 



