MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 



281 



— their wings are unfolded, and they are in the air in an in- 

 stant, especially the latter, as I have often found when I have 

 attempted to take them. None are more remarkable for this 

 than the Cicindelce, which, however, taking very short flights, 

 are as easily marked down as a partridge, and afford as much 

 amusement to the entomologist as the latter to the sportsman. 

 It is to be observed that many insects in this order have 

 no wings, and the female glow-worms neither wings nor 

 elytra. 



Many persons are not aware that the insects of the next 

 order, the Dermaptera, can fly ; but earwigs (Forficula), their 

 size considered, are furnished with very ample and curious 

 wings, the principal nervures of which are so many radii, di- 

 verging from a common point near the anterior margin. 

 Between these are others, which, proceeding from the opposite 

 margin, terminate in the middle of the wing. These organs, 

 when at rest, are more than once folded both transversely and 

 longitudinally. 



Wings equally ample, forming the quadrant of a circle, and 

 with five or six nervures diverging from their base, distinguish 

 the Strepsipterous tribe. When unemployed, these are folded 

 longitudinally. 1 



Probably in the next order ( Orthoptera) the tegmina, or 

 wing-covers — since they are usually of a much thinner sub- 

 stance than elytra — assist them in flying. They are, however, 

 quite covered by irregular reticulations, produced by various 

 nervures sent forth by the longitudinal ones, and running in 

 all directions. When at rest, the inner part of one laps over 

 that of the other ; but in different genera there is a singular 

 variation in this circumstance. Thus in Blatta, Phasma, and 

 male Acridce, and generally speaking, but not invariably, in 

 Locusta and Truxalis, the left elytrum laps over the right ; 

 but in Mantis, Mantispa, some female Acridce, Gryllus, 

 and Gryllotalpa, the right is laid over the left. The wings 

 in this order, though always ample and larger than the teg- 

 mina, do not invariably form a quadrant of a circle, falling 



1 Plate II. Fig. 1. It has been ascertained that the spurious elytra of these 

 insects are serviceable in their flight. As M. Latreille now allows this, he ought 

 to have restored its original name, which he had altered, to this order. 



