THE YOUNG 



BRITISH WINGED INSECTS. 



By S. L. MosLEY. 



[Cojitinued from page 42.) 



Order II. ORTHOPTERA. 



This order is divided into two sections 

 by Westwood. 



1. — cursoria 



2. — Saltatoria. 



The first section contains the running 

 species, and the second the jumping species. 

 I will reverse these two sections because the 

 jumpers seem to unite this order with the 

 Hemiptera, and the runners unite it with 

 the Coleoptera. 



1. Saltatoria. — This section contains 

 the grasshoppers, crickets, and locusts. The 

 propensities of this section present the 

 same habits as some of the jumping Homo- 

 j?tei'a, and in general structure the two 

 classes of insects seem somewhat similar. 



2. CuRSORiA. — The second section in- 

 cludes the running species, of which the 

 cockroach (Blatta orientalis) is the best 

 known example. 



The Earwigs ^Euplexoptera) should also 

 be added as a third section to this order. 

 Thus while the jumping species unite the 

 Ortlio^tera with the Homojptercu, the Cursoria 

 unite through the Euplexoptercu with the 

 running Coleo^tercu. 



Order III. COLEOPTERA. 



I need not enter into this order now 

 as the various sections were fully des- 

 cribed by Dr. Ellis, in the last volume 

 of the Y. N. But seeing that we finish 

 the last order with the earwig, it seems 

 as if the Coleoptera should begin with 

 the Brachyelytra, being the nearest similar 

 in general appearance. 



Order IV, NEUROPTERA. 



The connection between this order and 

 the last does not seem very clear. Some 

 of the groups seem related to the crickets. 

 If the genus /S^^Zo^s belongs to the Coleoptera, 

 then it should be placed at the end of that 



NATURALIST. 65 



order, and would in some measure connect 

 it with this. The order Neuroptera of 

 Linnseus contains many groups greatly 

 dissimilar, but yet not sufficiently distinct 

 to be elevated to the rank of distinct orders, 

 although several authors have split it up 

 into two, three, or even four. It is clearly 

 divisable into two divisions, and it matters 

 not whether they are called orders or sub- 

 orders, so long as they follow each other ; 

 yet, I think if they are raised to distinct 

 orders, the two divisions of the Hemiptera 

 have an equal claim. For the present we 

 will call them sub-orders — 



1. Neuroptera (proper.) 



2. Trichoptera. 



The British species of Neuroptera, proper, 

 are divided by Westwood into the following 

 sections (called by him families). 



1. PsosciD^.— Consists of very small 

 insects, similar to the Psyllidce in general 

 appearance, but differing in the neuration 

 of the wings, and in the mouth parts. They 

 may be beaten from trees, pailings, and 

 similar situations. They sit with the wings 

 roof-like over the back like the above named 

 insects, but they do not jump. The younger 

 stages are similar to the adult, but without 

 wings. 



2. PERLiDiE. — This section contains the 

 stone flies ; somewhat cricket shaped, with 

 the under wings as long as the upper ones, 

 and two long filiments at the extremity 

 of the abdomen. They hide under stones 

 &c. near to streams, and are much sought 

 after by the angler. The early stages are 

 active and aquatic. 



3. Ephemerid^. — These insects are well, ; 

 known. They are distinguished by the 

 short antennae, the very small hind wings, 

 and the very long filiments at the extremiy 

 of the body. In the early state they live in 

 water and are active. This section is also 

 remarkable for having a kind of pseudo- 

 imago state between the pupa and the 

 perfect state. 



