NOTONECTA. KOTONECTA. 
Generic Character. 
Rostrum inflexum. 
Antennce tliorace breviores. 
Al(e quatuor,cruciato-com- 
plicatae. 
Pedes posteriores pilosi, na- 
tatorii. 
Snout inflected. 
Antennae shorter than tho- 
rax. 
Wings coriaceous on the 
upper part, and crossed 
over each other. 
Hind-Feet edged with hairs, 
and formed for swimming. 
principal species of this genus is the F^o- 
tonecta glauca^ a very common aquatic insect, in- 
habiting stagnant v^aters, and generally measur- 
ing about three parts of an inch in length. Its 
colour is grey-brown, and the upper wings are 
marked along the edges by a row of minute black 
specks. This insect is usually seen swimming 
on its back, in which situation it bears a most 
striking resemblance to a boat in miniature, the 
hind-legs acting like a pair of oars, and impelling 
the animal at intervals through the water. It 
preys on the smaller inhabitants of the water, and 
flies only by night. 
Notonecta striata is much smaller than the pre- 
ceding, not measuring more than a (juarter of an 
inch in length, and is of a yellowish grey colour. 
