130 



iNSECTA. 



ORDER III. ORTHOPTERA. 



Body generally softer than in the Coleoptera ; elytra soft, 

 semi-membranous and furnished with nervures; wings folded 

 longitudinally, and generally like a fan, and divided by mem- 

 branous nervures running in the same direction ; antennae 

 less variable in shape than among the Coleoptera, and usually 

 composed of a greater number of joints; eyes composite, 

 sometimes accompanied with two or three small smooth eyes ; 

 jaws covered with a kind of casque called galea ; mandibles 

 very strong and horny; four palpi ; the maxillaries composed 

 of five articulations, the labials of three ; metamorphosis par- 

 tial, being confined to the growth and development of the 

 elytra and wings, which begin to show themselves in the 

 nyrnph in a rudimental state, or like stumps ; habitation 

 always terrestrial even in their two first states ; regimen her- 

 bivorous or carnivorous, but most frequently herbivorous. 

 Two families. 



FAMILY I. CURSORIA. 



Posterior as well as anterior legs only adapted for run- 

 ning ; females without horny ovipositor ; no singing organ. 

 Two genera. 



Genus I. Forficula, Lin. 



Three joints to the tarsi ; wings fan-like, and folded trans- 

 versely beneath very short crustaceous elytra ; body linear, 

 and terminated by two large, movable and shelly pieces, 

 forming a forceps. 



Genus II. Mantis, Lin. 



Corselet exceedingly elongated and narrow ; five joints to 

 each tarsus ; anterior legs larger than the others ; they use 

 them for conveying their prey to the mouth, by quickly 

 flexing the tibia against the thigh. The name of Mantis, 

 which in Greek signifies prophet, is derived from the suppo- 

 sition that they indicate or point out. objects when extending 

 the feet. The Turks pay them a certain reverence. 



