206 HEMIPTERA. 



Imnda, Linn., a brown very delicately-formed insect, which tre- 

 quents trees, and has reminded many observers of a Tipula, both 

 from its form, and the manner in which it is continually balancing 

 itself on its long slender legs. This forms the last family of the 

 true Land-Bugs, the species belonging to the remaining families 

 of Hemij^tera Hetero])tera being all either water-insects, or founa 

 only in the immediate neighbourhood of water. 



Family X. — Saldidce. 



Body long, slender, depressed ; legs long and very slender ; 

 eyes large and prominent ; head not narrowed into a neck behind ; 

 habits carnivorous. 



The species of Salda are small dull-coloured insects, always 

 found near water. They are very active, running and jumping 

 with great agility, and feed upon the small insects which are met 

 with in the localities Avhich they frequent. 



Family XL — Ilydrovietridce. 



Body slender; head twice as long as the prothorax, forming 

 nearly one-third of the total length of the body; all the legs 

 slender and of equal length ; habits probably herbivorous. 



Hydrometra Stagnorum, Linn., is a black or brown insect, more 

 or less tinged with reddish, and about half an inch long. It is 

 found running on the surface of water, or else on the banks, or 

 among water-plants, but is not very active. 



Family XII. — Gerridce. 



Head short ; body and legs long and slender ; claws of the 

 tarsi inserted in a notch before the extremity of the last joint ; 

 habits carnivorous. 



These are long narrow insects, generally of a black or brown 

 colour, and about half an inch in length, which run upon the 

 surface of the water. In many species the wings are only 

 developed occasionally. The principal European genera are Gerris 

 and Velia, Fabr. ; but the most remai-kable genus of this fjimily is 

 Halobutes, Esch., which is truly pelagic, the few known species 

 having been met with running on the surface of the ocean itself, 

 often at a distance of hundreds of miles from land. A'qoophilus 

 Bonnairei, Sign., is a small brownish-yellow or reddish yellow 

 insect, found between tide-marks on the coasts of England and 



