CHAPTER VIII. 
The Locust ri Family. 
This family includes the true locusts or Grass¬ 
hoppers, the Katydids and crickets, the earwigs, 
walking-sticks, and roaches. 
The family is very abundant everywhere, and 
their characteristics can be studied by all. 
The most obvious characteristics are, (i) their 
straight wings or wing-covers, which are shaped 
like a parallelogram. The veins are also straight, 
resembling the venation of lily leaves. The hind 
wings are irregularly triangular in outline, and 
more or less gauzy. In some species these hind 
wings are black bordered with yellow; in others 
both pairs of wings are obsolete or entirely wanting. 
(2) The hindermost legs (metalegs) are much 
larger and longer than either of the other legs. In 
some members of the family these legs are several 
times larger than the others, and are specially fitted 
for jumping. 
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