ESTOMOLOGY. 41 



much stronger. A single insect crossing the path will infect a stratum of air of 

 several foct in width, which remains for a considerable period. A small black species 

 sometimes comes on the table around the lights at evening, which is veiy disagreeable, 

 though its scent is not so strong as some others. In smaller numbers a grey 

 species is an occasional visitor. 



" A large greenish species is very injurious to fruit. I have observed individuals 

 repose for hours on the oranges that were nearly ripe, sucking their juices through 

 the skin ; and wlun the oranges were plucked, they had large scars on the places 

 where the insects had rested, and the orange within was injured in those places. 



" I examined a species in Tavoy which proved to belong to AVestwood's 'Tincjid/e. 

 Rostrum three-jointed, tarsi three-jointed. Scutellum two-tliirds the length of the 

 insect. Two small thorns on each shoulder, with a small brass-coloured jiatcli 

 behind on the margin. Edge of the wing-cases with six black thorns on each side, 

 six black spots on the abdomen, general colour of the insect deep green above and 

 light green beneath. 



" The Karens near Rangoon describe a similar insect as some years effecting much 

 injury to the paddy by absorbing its juices, before the kernel has become hard. 

 Whole fields of rice are sometimes abandoned in consequence of the devastation of 

 the paddy-bug. The oifensive odour which some of these insects emit appears to bo 

 done in self-defence. Some, the grey species especially, will come about the table 

 and not the slightest disagreeable scent be discovered, but no sooner has one come 

 in contact with it, than it emits an intolerable effluvium." 



Family Belostomidse. 



"A large water insect, as denominated by the natives, resembling a gigantic 

 cockroach, is not uncommon. The perfect insect has the tarsi two-jointed, but 

 quite incorporated with the extremity of the tibiae, and terminated by a long slender 

 and acute unguis characteristic of the genus Belodoma. A specimen before me 

 measures two inches and three-quarters in length. From some brief remarks on the 

 Asiatic species of this genus by Dr. Leidy in the journal of the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences of Philadelphia, the Tenasserim species is, I judge, B. indica, St. F. and S." 



Famihj Gerridse. 

 " A long-legged insect may be frequently seen stalking haughtily about, on the 

 surface of our inland streams, "like a Burman king on the shoulders of his human 

 horse. It has obtained the approiiriate name of water-skipper. The Burmese call it 

 the ' marine officer.' Gerris, sp." 



PlILOMEEA LATICAUDA, Hard. 



Familij Nepidse. 

 Eanatea geossa, Fabr. Tenasserim. 



Family Reduviidse. 



EuAGORAS plagiatus, Burm. 

 Velinus Malatus, Stal. 

 Rkduviits mendicus, stal, var. 

 Vesbius sanguinosus, Stiil. 



To this family belongs the natural and appropriate enemy of the common hug, 

 of which Van Beneden thus writes {np. cit. p. 267): "Happily for us, another 

 hemipterous insect, the masked reduvius {Reduvius jiersonatiis), penetrates like tho 

 preceding one into our apartments, and covers itself with dust in order the more 

 reatUly to fall upon its enemy ; but man is not sufficiently acquainted with its habits 

 to make war in common with it on tliis miserable parasite (the Bug). We ought 

 for this purpose to place the masked Redueius under the protection of the law, and 

 offer premiums for the most vigorous races." Many people may often have noticed 

 a repulsive-looking insect on trees, covered over with loose rubbish or filth. This 



