THE SHORE BUGS. 1003 



triangular, almost equilateral; elytra usually present, without 

 cuneus, conjointly subtectiform, the costal margin broadly 

 curved, its basal third usually flattened and reflexed ; mem- 

 brane relatively small, its longitudinal nerves straight, joining 

 a curved terminal one, thus forming several long cells; legs 

 slender, the hind ones longest with coxae broad, fitted for leap- 

 ing; tarsi 3-jointed, the first joint very short, second equal to 

 or longer than third ; claws long, slender, curved. 



More than 100 species of this family, often known as Acan- 

 thiidae, have been described, mostly from the Old World. They 

 are predaceous, frequent damp or marshy soils and, says Uhler 

 (1884, 265) : "Are often found in countless numbers upon the 

 salt and brackish marshes of our sea coasts. Their movements 

 strongly recall those of the tiger-beetles, which inhabit the 

 same places. When approached or disturbed they leap from 

 the ground, arise a few feet into the air by means of their 

 wings, and alight a short distance away, taking care to slip 

 quickly into the shade of some projecting tufts of grass or clod, 

 where the hues of the soil harmonize with the color of their 

 bodies." 



The family Saldidae is the final one of the suborder Gymno- 

 cerata and serves as the connecting link between the terrestrial 

 or semiaquatic forms previously treated, and the more truly 

 aquatic ones of the suborder Cryptocerata which are to follow. 

 About 35 species are known from North America, 22 of which 

 occur in the eastern states. These represent two subfamilies 

 and are distributed among seven genera. The principal liter- 

 ature treating of them is by Say, 1832 ; Stal, 1873 ; Uhler, 1877, 

 1884; Champion, 1900; Reuter, 1912; Bueno, 1923, 1923a. 



KEY TO EASTERN' GENERA OF SALDID.-E. 



a. Third and fourth joints of antennas not or very rarely strongly 

 swollen; pronotum without conical tubercles on front lobe (Sub- 

 family Saldinse). 

 b. Membrane with five complete elongate cells of nearly equal size; 

 last ventral of female truncate. I. Pentacora, p. 1004. 



/>/). Membrane with only four entire longitudinal cells. 



c. Sides of pronotum more or less flattened ; front callus of pronotum 



never reaching the side margins; apex of pronotum subequal in 



width to that of head across eyes. 



d. First or inner cell of membrane produced two-fifths or one-half 



its own length beyond the base of the second; elytra often 



punctate, always without sericeous spots; embolium wholly 



black. II. Salda, p. 1007. 



