POSITION AND TERMINOLOGY OF THE CULICID^ 17 



the shanks or tibicB, and the feet or tarsi. Of these, the 

 Coxa} consists of two joints, the smaller second joint being 

 called the trochanter ; the femur and tibia each of a single 

 joint ; and the feet generally of five joints, of which the 

 first is sometimes called the metatarsus. At the tip of 

 the last joint are two claws {ungues), and under each of 

 them there is generally a membranous appendage called the 

 pulvillus ; many families having, in addition, between the 

 pulvilli, a third appendage of similar structure called the 

 epipodium, while in other families this appendage is bristle- 

 like or altogether wanting. These claws vary greatly in 

 form in the Gulicidm, and afford valuable specific characters. 



JfLS^ffoljoint 



Fig. 5— Leg of a Mosquito. 



The only remaining point that requires notice is the 

 meaning of the conventions that are adopted with respect to 

 the names of species. Two names are always employed ; 

 the first of these indicates the Genus, always given the 

 complement of a capital initial ; the second the species, of 

 which there may be any number in a genus, and, unless the 

 name refers to a person or a place, commences with a small 

 letter. 



Like the French Eepublic, the species is " one and indi- 

 visible." Varieties there may be, though the practice of 

 making them is usually regarded with disfavour, except 

 among horticulturists, so that to speak of " a species of 

 pictus " is apt to raise a smile on the face of the non-medical 

 naturalist, much as a slip by the latter, in the use of a 

 2 



