In the grasshopper, the front-wings are long and narrow, while the hind-wings are large and broad. When the grasshopper is at rest, the hind-wings are folded together precisely like a fan, and, when closed, rest against the sides of the abdomen, the long, narrow front-wings closing down upon them, and covering them.

60. Let the pupils prepare a grasshopper, with the wings spread as in the act of flying. A specimen which is dry may be moistened by wrapping it up in a piece of wet cloth, and letting it remain a day or two.

Having softened the joints of the insect in this way, it may then be pinned to a piece of cork, or a pin-cushion, and, the wings having been stretched, they may be pinned in this position, using triangular bits of card through which the pins are passed to hold the wings in place, as represented in Fig. 64, which shows a grasshopper with the wings on

one side of the body pinned in the way described. When the insect becomes perfectly dry the wings will remain in the position in which they were pinned.

A common beetle should be prepared in the same way.

In the beetle the front-wings are very hard and are closed tightly over the hind-wings. With a pin, or the blade of a knife, the upper or front wings may be opened, and beneath these will be seen the hind-wings, not folded like a fan as in the grasshopper, but folded or bent in the middle, as the arm is bent at the elbow.

FIG. 65.-A BEETLE WITH THE ELYTRON AND HIND-WING OF THE RIGHT SIDE OPEN, AND THE ELYTRON OF THE LEFT SIDE OPEN WITH THE LEFT HIND-WING FOLDED IN ITS NATURAL POSITION WHEN CLOSED.

61. The abdomen has no wings or legs, but is plainly marked with lines running across the abdomen transversely.

FIG. 65.-ABDOMEN OF A DRAGON-FLY, SHOWING RINGS OR SEGMENTS.

These lines show the separation of the abdomen into rings, or segments. In insects with lengthened and slender abdomens the segments are long, and the abdomen, when bent or curved, bends at these joints, as shown in Fig. 67.

FIG. 67-INSECT WITH A LONG, SLENDER ABDOMEN.

If the pupil can handle these parts delicately enough, he may be able to separate the abdomen at these joints, into a series of rings, or segments, and glue them on a card, marked "Rings or segments of the abdomen." In the grasshoppers the segments show very plainly. On the hinder part of the abdomen there are various appendages, sometimes so short as to be scarcely perceptible, sometimes long, and thread-like, as in the May-fly (Fig. 98); again, in the shape of a sharp sting, as in the hornet. In the cricket, they are quite long and conspicuous. These appendages vary greatly in different insects.

CHAPTER IX.

PARTS OF AN INSECT (CONTINUED).

62. THE pupils have learned that the abdomen is divided. into rings or segments, and the division between these segments is plainly seen in most insects.

The thorax is divided in a similar manner, only the lines which divide the thorax are not so plainly seen.

The number of segments in the thorax is three. To the first segment, the head and first pair of legs are attached; to the second segment, the second pair of legs and the first pair of wings are attached; and to the third segment, the hind pair of legs, the hind pair of wings, and the abdomen, are attached. The three segments of the thorax have special names: the prothorax, this being the forward segment, next to the head; mesothorax, being the middle segment; and metathorax, being the last segment. Arranging these segments with the appendages attached to them in a table, they would appear as follows:

THE THORAX IS COM-
POSED OF THREE SEG-
MENTS.

1st Segment, Prothorax,
2d Segment, Mesothorax,

3d Segment, Metathorax,

Has attached to it the first pair of legs.

Has attached to it the second pair of legs and the first pair of wings. Has attached to it the third pair of legs and the second pair of wings.

63. Let the pupils now endeavor to dissect a beetle, carefully separating the segments of the thorax, and, if possible, the minute jaws and other mouth-parts, and stick them on

F

a large card, with the names of the different parts neatly marked upon the card, as in the accompanying figure (Fig.

FIG. 68. A COMMON BROWN BEETLE, WITH THE PARTS SEPARATED.

Having now learned something about the parts of an insect, and having seen how much these parts vary in size and appearance in different insects, the pupils are better prepared to understand the surprising modification which the mouth-parts undergo in the different groups.

64. The parts of an insect's mouth, generally speaking, consist of an upper lip, called the labrum; a pair of jaws, called mandibles; a pair of smaller jaws, called maxillæ, to which are attached little jointed feelers, called maxillary

THORAX.