298 BRITISH ENTOMOSTRACA. 



The most remarkable organs attached to the head, 

 however, are the first pair of foot-jaws. These arise from 

 between the base of the antennae, are very large and strong, 

 and project forwards beyond the head. They consist of 

 three stout joints, of considerable length, and of a cylin- 

 drical shape ; the second joint, near its apex, having a 

 tooth or spine, and the last being terminated by a curved 

 hook ; the hook pointed upwards and backwards. The 

 second pair, of three joints also, is of nearly equal 

 length, but much more slender, and has the terminal 

 joint ovate, compressed, and bifid. The third pair is 

 short, very thick, stout, of two joints, and terminates in a 

 strong claw-shaped extremity. 



The mouth-apparatus resembles much that of the other 

 genera already described belonging to the Peltocephala ; 

 but the sucking-tube is not so conical or sharp-pointed. 



The feet are three pairs, and are all foliaceous. The 

 structure of these members is very simple ; being merely 

 foliaceous lamellae, which lap over each other, and surround 

 the thorax as with a shield. They are of a light horny 

 texture, and somewhat granulated like the dorsal elytra- 

 form appendages. The oviferous tubes are straight and 

 very long. 



From the form of the feet, and the large development 

 and prehensile structure of the foot-jaws, it is evident 

 that the animals belonging to this genus are incapable of 

 much motion, and are more adapted than any of the 

 others we have yet described, for living strictly as para- 

 sites. They seem, from Leach's figure of the species he 

 describes (in situ}, to bury their beak in the flesh of their 

 prey, and no doubt cause much irritation to their un- 

 willing host. The gill-covers to which they were found 

 adhering, showed the marks of inflammation of long 

 standing, as they were much thickened. 



