219 
CLASS V. ItfSECTA. 
irregular flights in many parts of Europe, and visited England: but 
they perished in a very short time, before they did much harm. 
“ Of all the insects which arc capable of adding to the calamities 
of the human race, locusts seem to possess the most formidable 
powers of destruction. Legions of these voracious animals of various 
species are produced in Africa, where the devastation they commit 
is almost incredible. The air is darkened by then numbers; they 
carry desolation with them wherever they pass, and m the short 
space of a few hours are said to change the most fertile provinces m- 
to a barren desert. n 
u Some of the species serve as food, and are eaten fresh as well as 
salted. In the latter state they are constantly exposed to sale in the 
Levant, but the quantity’ of nutritious matter is said to be very small.” 
Stirps 2 .—Hinder kgs' longer than the body : antenna: capitate: scu- 
tellum short. 
Genus 265. GOMPIIOCERUS. Leach's MSS. Gomphoceros. 
Thimb. 
Linder legs longer than the body : antenna capitate ; club of the anten-* 
nte spoon-shaped in both sexes : anterior tibia simple. 
1. Gomph. rujus. 
Gryllus rufiis. Linne. 
Inhabits England. 
Stirps 3. — Wings covered by the scutellum. 
Genus 266. ACRYDIUM. Fabr., Geoff., De Geer, Oliv,, Leach. 
Sp. 1. Acr. subululum. Obscure, testaceous brown, granulose : thorax 
carinated, marginated. 
Gryllus subul&tus. Linn * Acrydium subulatum. Fa.br, ; Oliv. : Leach. 
Tctrix subulate. L air. 
Inhabits Europe. It is found on hot and sandy banks, and is subject 
to some variation in colour. 
The species of Acrydium arc but little understood. We seem to 
possess three very distinct indigenous species, all varying in size, 
sculpture, and colour. 
Order VI. DICTYOPTERA. Leach. 
Order Hekiptera. Linne. 
IJass Ulonata. Fabr. 
Order Orthoptera. Latr. 
Characters of the Order. 
Elytra, coriaceous, nervose, decussating each other: wings membra- 
naceous, with a tew longitudinal folds: maxillary palpi elongate: 
body depressed, oval, or somewhat orbicular : tarsi with live joints. 
