' ORTHOPTERA. The name orthoptera sig nifies straight wing, as the generality of insects of this order are distinguished by having their under wings folded in straight plaits, and not doubled up under the wing-cases, as in the coleoptera or beetles. When the insect is at rest the under wings are folded. longitudinally, or lengthwise, in long, narrow plaits, diverging from a common center at the root of the wing near the body, like a fan; these plaits gradually grow wide as they approach the circumference. When closed, the under wings are concealed under the upper wings, but when in flight they are expanded to the utmost, also in the manner of a fan. The insects of this order are furnished with strong and powerful jaws for biting their food, consists principally of vegetable substances, leaves, blossoms, and sometimes fruits, and as their digestive organs are also well developed, and as they feed voraciously in larva, pupa, and perfect stages, the injuries they are able to inflict upon the farmers are sometimes 'almost incredible. Take, for example, the
Western grasshoppers, which migrate in innumer ahle numbers, and sometimes in a single day will destroy the produce of a whole region. As soon as the eggs are hatched the young insects of this' order begin to eat, and are in form almost exactly like the perfect insects, with the excep tion of having no'wings. They shed their skins several times before arriving at maturity; as pupae they acquire rudimentary wings, or wing-Sheaths, and it is only as the perfect insect that they acquire 'perfect wings and are able to fly. There are, however, several species of the orthoptera which never acquire any wings whatever, but during their whole existence are obliged to leap, walk, or crawl, either wholly wingless, or with rudimentary wings only, which are of no use for purposes of flight. Cockroaches, crickets, grass hoppers, etc., belong to this order of insects.