ENTOMOLOGY. 
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the coxa or hip, which is received into an acetabulum 
or socket, where it is suspended by a ligament. 
Frequently it is of a globular form, more or less sur- 
rounded and enclosed by a horny substance ; at other 
times it forms a truncated cone, and appears attached 
to the thorax by the greater part of its base. When 
of the former shape, its motions are free and versa- 
tile; when of the latter, they are more restricted. 
In intimate connection with the coxa, but capable of 
independent movement, is a small piece named the 
trochanter . Its form is subject to many changes, but 
it is most commonly triangular or quadrangular, often 
prolonged into a lateral point. It articulates with 
the coxa, sometimes by ball-joints entering corre- 
sponding sockets, or simply by a membrane, the lat- 
ter being generally the case when the shape is an- 
nular, as among the Diptera. Its union with the 
succeeding part of the leg, namely the thigh (femur), 
is usually much closer. The thigh, in far the greater 
number of instances, is the largest and most conspic- 
uous joint of the leg. It is usually thick and robust ; 
in form cylindrical, or compressed ; straight, or arched; 
slender at the base, and incrassated at the middle or 
apex, &c. Sometimes the anterior thighs are longest 
and thickest, (Acrocinus longimanus, Nat. Lib. Coleop. 
pi. 21, fig. 1.) occasionally the middle pair (Onitis), 
and in all the saltatorial tribes, and many besides 
which do not leap, the hinder pair are greatly 
enlarged, ( Haltica, Locusta , Sagra). The thighs 
are less frequently furnished with foliaceous and 
Other appendages than that part of the leg next to be 
