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EEPORT ON THE PELAGIC HEMIPTEEA. 37 



base is a very short ueck, above wliicli the trochanter suddenly widens, and curves 

 upwards and inwards ; it is then for half the length somewhat cylindrical, while the 

 apical half narrows to a point above, and below is triangularly cleft to receive the femur. 

 The trochanter is more or less pubescent, and is sometimes armed on the inner side with 

 small teeth or spines. 



TJie Femur (PI. III. fig. 15,y!) is much the longest joint. It is somew^hat incrassate at 

 the base, and becomes gradually thinner to about the middle, after which it is for a little 

 way of equal thickness, and then is gradually and slightly incrassated to the apex. It 

 is more or less pubescent, and is usually armed with small spines or teeth pointing 

 backwards, and arranged in a series on the inner side from base to apex ; more rarely 

 the spines are irregularly scattered. 



The Tibia (PL III. figs. 1 5 and 16, ti.) is shorter and less stout than the femur, cylindrical, 

 and slightly and gradually attenuate from base to apex. It may be armed like the femur, 

 or be unarmed. On the inner edge is one or more series of flattened circular tubercles, 

 from which arise hairs (usually more or less curved at the apex), increasing in number 

 and length towards the apex of the joint. From out of this line of curved hairs springs 

 a fringe of very long hairs, many times longer than the diameter of the tibia, and 

 naturally straight but easily bent. At the base of the joint these hairs are few, but their 

 number and their length increase towards the apex. 



The Tarsus (PL III. figs. 15 and 16, ta.) is two-jointed, the first joint being longer than 

 the second, but varying in its relative length in the difierent species. The first joint 

 (PL III. fig. 16, ta. 1) is cylindrical, and a little incrassate at the base. Its inner edge 

 is furnished with hairs similar to those on the inner edge of the tibia ; tow^ards the 

 apex of the joint these hairs diminish in length (PL III. fig. 1 7). Approximate 

 measurements of this joint (taken about the middle) give (in iviillerstorffi) the diameter 

 of the joint "08 mm. ; length of the hairs on the inner side '035 mm.; of the curved short 

 fringe "05 mm.; and of the long fringe '4 mm. In sericeus the corresponding measure- 

 ments are "05 mm.; "025 mm.; '05 mm. and '4 mm. The second joint (PL III. figs. 

 15 and 16, ta. 2) is cylindrical, and bears on its inner side a line of short curved hau's, 

 similar to that on the first joint, Init without the long hairs. Not far from the apex on 

 the inner side is a notch or excavation, from which to the apex runs a furrow, in which lie 

 two straight claws. Arising from between the claws is a ribbon-like process similar to 

 that on the front tarsus. Between the notch and the apex the joint is thinner than before 

 the notch, and on its outer side arises, some way before the tip, one or two long stout 

 hairs, more or less abruptly bent at the apex, and extending beyond the end of the joint. 

 The length of the claws is, in iviillerstorffi, about '085 mm., and of the longest hair on the 

 opposite side of the joint "2 mm. (the ordinary hairs there being "05 mm.). In sericeus 

 the claws are "08 mm. long. 



