pose of seizing and conveying the prey to their 

 mouth ; whilst the two posterior pairs support 

 the body, and move it from place to place. 

 Their movements are rather slow and unsteady, 

 moving up and down upon their legs as they 

 proceed forwards, in the manner of the Crane- 

 fly (Tipula). They feed on small insects. 

 Scopoli, first established this genus; the species 

 were referred to Cimex, by Linne and others, 

 and Fabricius, unacquainted with what Scopoli 

 had done, perceived the necessity of forming a 

 genus for them, and this he called Emesa, of 

 which he describes four species ; three belonging 

 to America, and one to the East Indies. The 

 Cimex vagabundus, Linn., of Europe, is a fifth 

 species, which, however, Fabricius placed in his 

 genus Gerris. 



The word Ploiaria, is of uncertain origin, 

 Mr. Dumeril supposes it to have been derived 

 from the Greek name for a small vessel, n?^ot<ipiov. 

 (navicula.) 



PLATE 47. 



