[ 61 1 
in which, as we shall see presently, the forewings are thick and 
hard. None are exhibited. 
COCKROACHES, STICK AND LEAF- 
INSECTS, GRASSHOPPERS. 
{Orthoptera.J 
The Orthoptera (literally 'straight-winged Insects') in- 
clude Earwigs, Cockroaches, Praying Insects, Stick and Leaf- 
Insects, Grasshopers, Locusts and Crickets. They undergo no 
metar.iorphosis, their mouthparts are biting, and they have, as 
a rule, two pairs of wings. The fore-wings are mostly thick 
and hard and serve as protection for the thin and membranous 
hind wings which in the resting condition are fan-like folded up 
below them. In a few cases, however, wings are wanting. 
Some of the members of the group are uninteresting, others 
again are amongst the most curious forms of the animal king- 
dom, adopting the strangest forms of protective disguises, like 
the Stick and Leaf-Insects. 
The Earwigs ( ForficuUdae) and Cockroaches {Blatiidae) 
will probably receive only scant attention from the visitor. 
Cockroaches especially make themselves sufficiently familiar in 
all sorts of places where they are not wanted. 
The Praying Insects or Soothsayers {Manttdae) have their 
popular name from the attitude which they often assume with 
their thorax and fore-legs. The name has nothing to do with 
any mild mental disposition, on the contrary, they are blood- 
thirsty creatures, living on other insects, the females at times 
devouring even their own mates. Their fore-legs are veritable 
death traps. Two of the joints, the femur and the tibia, are 
provided with sharp spines and teeth which fit into each other 
when the joints close after the manner of a pocket-knife, A 
common Singapore species is Rhomb&dem basaUs. It is of 
green colour, whilst another species, Deroplatys exskcata, re- 
sembles a dead leaf (see pi. XVI, fig, 2), Yet more remark- 
able is a small pink Mantis, Hymempus blcornis, which mimicks 
the flowers of the Sendudock or Straits Rhodpdendron {Mehu- 
toma poiyanthum). A specimen from Johore, presented by Mr. 
W. Fox, is exhibited (see pi. XVI, fig. 4). 
Stick and Leaf-Insects {Phasmidae) show the most 
curious resemblance to dry sticks and living leaves. At the 
first glance there would seem to be a great difference between 
the two. However, there is a special show-case displaying the 
