﻿Velia is nearly related to Gerris and Hydrometra (PI. 32), and 

 like those j^enera is remarkable for occasionally wanting wings; and 

 although t years since I was induced to offer an opinion which in- 

 clined to a belief that the apterous specimens might be the pupae 

 only, I am now almost convinced that they are a distinct species; 

 for it is no uncommon circumstance in the New Forest to find the 

 largest apterous species of Gerris united, the abdomen of the female 

 being greatly distended : it is therelbre still to be hoped that some 

 assiduous entomologist who resides in a convenient situation, will 

 endeavour to decide this doubtful and interesting cjucstion, by con- 

 fining a sufficient number of V. currens (the conmion and apterous 

 s{)ecies) in a frame covered with coarse gauze, and letting it float 

 where they have been observed to congregate. 



In the winged specimens the thorax projects over the abdomen 

 as in Gerris, and the scutellum seems to be wanting; the ciliated 

 middle tibiae common to both sexes, and the spined jiosterior 

 thighs of the male, are not common characters, although they are 

 observable in Gerris, from which Velia is distuiguished by its shorter 

 legs and 3-jointed anterior tarsi, the terminal joint of which pro- 

 jecting in a lobe over the claws is very remarkable and is less di- 

 stinct in the other feet. Tiie short and thick })ile with which the 

 undersides of these insects are clothed, repells the water so that 

 they are not injured by its action. 



1. V. currens. Fab. Ent. Si/st. v. 4. p. 193. n. 22. — Coqucbcrt Icon. tab. 19./. 1 1. 



Apterous, dark brown, velvety. Tliora.x truncated behind, with a reddish 

 spot near the anterior margin and a gray spot on each side. Abdomen 

 with 2 rows of gray spots down the back, tlic elevated sides orange and 

 black, the under side orange also. 



Very common from the earliest period of spring to the autumn, 

 by the sides of rivers and on running brooks. 



2. v. rivuiorura Fab. — Curtis Biit. Ent. pi. ^. 



This pretty insect has never been figured, and was unknown as an 

 jniiabitant of this country initil s})ccimcns were taken by the llev. 

 W. Kirby, tlie Rev. John Burrell, and Dr. Leach : it lias since 

 been observed in considerable abundance by J. C. Dale, Esq. 

 upon a stream of water running through iiis estate at Glanville's 

 Wootton, Dorset; and ]\Ir. iSiunouelle lias met with it near Kew 

 Bridge. It is found from the middle of jNIarch to the middle of 

 July, and i)robabIy longer. I took several specimens in Scotland, 

 2 or S of them at a very considerable elevation upon the Ochil Mills 

 near Stirling, in a very small but clear spring surrounded with 

 rushes. 



Tlie insect in the plate rej^resented flying is the male, that at 

 rest the female, and the lines drawn near each denote their natural 

 size. The plant is Jiinais ari iculatus {iSlnnlw^-irmiei] jointed Rush). 



