precept was addressed, to whom it would otherwise have been de ignotis.
They naturally divide themselves into the following tribes, to each of which we shall successively advert, presenting a view of its general history, and illustrating it, in most instances, by figures of some of the most characteristic species:—Forficulidæ, (earwigs,) Blattidæ, (cockroaches,) Mantidæ, (soothsayers or walking-leaves,) Phasmidæ, (spectres,) Gryllidæ, (grasshoppers,) Locustidæ, (locusts,) Achetidæ, (crickets.) The first four of these, being all provided with feet formed for running, constitute Latreille's comprehensive family Cursoria; the three last, which have thickened hinder legs adapted for leaping, compose his family Saltatoria.
Fam. Forficulidæ.
The forms and appearance of the common earwig are so familiar to all, that we have thought it unnecessary to figure any of the species, especially since they are all very similar to each other; but as they present several peculiarities in their structure and habits, it is necessary to give some account of them, otherwise our exposition of this order would be incomplete. It has been already mentioned, that the disposition of the wings does not correspond to what is observed in other Orthoptera, since they are folded both longitudinally and transversely.[1] This arrange-
- ↑ Although the character afforded by the folding of the wings must be admitted to be a valuable one, its importance is obviously over-estimated when it is regarded as authorising
