180 LIFE, IN ITS INTERMEDIATE FORMS. 
bedposts, is one still smaller. Very few of this great 
group render the slightest direct service to mankind ; we 
do not at this moment recollect any but the Cantharis, or 
Blister-fly, which is useful in surgery. 
Those insects which have the fore-wings somewhat 
leathery, but less rigid than those of Beetles, ancl sheath- 
ing the lower pair in such a way that their edges overlap 
each other, are called Orthoptera, or Straight-wings. The 
Locust, Grasshopper, and Cricket, all of which make a 
crinking sort of music by rubbing their stiff wings in 
various ways over each other, are of this sort : and so is 
the Earwig, that spoils our dahlias by eating holes in 
their tender petals, and the ferocious Mantis of the tropics, 
that holds up its sawlike arms as if in the attitude of 
prayer (hence called Prie-Dieu), but really watching to 
smite down any unwary fly that may be passing, and to 
seize it between the locking-spines of its fore-arms. 
Who that has sauntered by a river’s side in the burning 
noon of summer is not familial’ with the arrowy Dragonfly ? 
He swoops down in wide curves, and just touches the 
water in his rushing flight, and turns, and darts to and 
fro, with a speed and a power that soem to mock the ring- 
net of the eager inseot-hunter. The sun’s ray gleams from 
the ample pinions as they speed past our eyes, as from 
surfaces of polished steel, and the long and slender body 
that is poised behind is clad in mail of green, and azure, 
and wold. Ha ! we have struck down the bold warrior 
with our cane, and there it lies, spinning round in the 
orass, and rustling its beautiful wings, with tremulous 
vibrations, in its fruitless attempt to fly. Poor creature, 
thou wilt fly no more ! no more will the vigorous impulses 
