THE INSECT WORLD. 



8l 



1. The Ctcrsoria, or "runners," with stout, long legs fitted 

 for rapid motion, — like the roaches. 



2. The Raptoria, or "graspers," in which the forelegs are 

 developed into grasping organs and the insects are predaceous, 

 — in strong contrast to all the others of the order. 



3. The Ambulatoria, or "walkers," in which the legs are 

 long and slender, useful for deliberate progress only. 



4. The Saltatoria, or "jumpers," which have the hind legs 

 unusually long and well developed, fitted for leaping, — like grass- 

 hoppers and crickets. 



Fig. 46. 



Ear-wig.— I, mature male ; 2, nymph ; 3, the wing, showing the radiate type of pleating. 



The Cursoria, or "runners," belong to the family BlattidcB, 

 or roaches. They are flattened, rather soft, repulsive creatures, 

 with long, powerful, spiny legs ; long, slender, filiform antennae, 

 and the head bent under the body so as to locate the mouth 

 parts between the front legs. They are brown or yellow in color, 

 are nocturnal in habit, and live under bark or in crevices, for 

 which their flattened form suits them peculiarly well. 



Roaches eat almost anything, or are practically omnivorous. 

 They are among the most ancient type of insects, and are yet 

 disgustingly common in the tropics, their numbers decreasing 

 northwardly until only a few cosmopolitan forms are found do- 

 mesticated in houses. 



A peculiar feature in the life history is the method of oviposi- 

 tion. The eggs mature at about the same time, and are closely 

 packed into a somewhat bean-shaped case, which the female car- 

 ries about with her, partially protruding from the end of the ab- 

 domen, for several days. It is then deposited intact in some 



6 



