ENTOMOLOGY IN OUTLINE — HEMIPTER A. 43 



on her own back, but this belief was corrected by Miss Slater, who 

 made a study of this insect. In speaking of it, this lady says: "That 

 the male chafes under the burden is unmistakable; in fact, my sus- 

 picions as to the sex of the egg-carrier were first arousecl by watching 

 one in an aquarium which was trying to free itself from its load of 

 eggs, an exhibition of a lack of maternal interest not to be expected in 

 a female carrying her own eggs. Generally the Zaithas are very active, 

 darting about with great rapidity; but an egg-bearer remains quietly 

 clinging to a leaf with the end of the abdomen just out of the water. 

 If attacked, he meekly receives the blows, seemingly preferring death, 

 which, in several cases, was the result, to the indignity of carrying and 

 caring for the eggs." 



Family Naueopidse (Creeping Water-bugs). These are rather small, 

 fiat-bodied, oval insects, predaceous in their habits, but not common on 

 this coast, and of no economic importance. 



Family Galgulidae (Toad-shaped Bugs). These include a family of 

 predaceous bugs only found near the margins of streams, and which are 

 of no importance economically. 



Family Salididse (Shore-bugs). These are small, soft, dark-colored 

 insects, with white or yellowish markings. Some are shiny black, but 

 none of any importance to us. 



Family Veliidse (Broad-shouldered Water-striders). This is a small 

 family of peculiarly shaped insects. Their legs are formed for running 

 over the surface of water, but they can also travel on land with consid- 

 erable speed. 



Family Hydpobatidse (Water-striders). The members of this family 

 are well known to all who have ever observed insects skimming along 

 over the surface of the water. Often they gather in large numbers, and, 

 when disturbed, dart, with lightning-like rapidity, in all directions. 

 They have no economic value, being neither good nor harmful. 



Family Limnobatidae (Marsh-treaders). There is but a single species 

 of this family in the United States, and this is of no economic value. 



Family Emesidse (Thread-legged Bugs). This is a small family of 

 very peculiar bugs. The body is long and slender and the middle and 

 hind legs very long and thread-like. The fore legs are constructed for 

 grasping, and resemble those of the praying mantis. It frequents trees, 

 and is predaceous in its habits. 



Family Reduviidae (Assassin-bugs). We now come to a family of 

 more interest to U3, as in this are many of the most beneficial of the 



