HEMIPTERA. 191 



species. Of these, only three, representing three genera, have been 

 catalogued from the United States. Our forms can be separated 

 by the following table : 



A. Fore-legs stout, fitted for grasping. 



B. Anterior tarsi with a single claw. MONON\ x. 



BB. Anterior tarsi with two claws. Galgulus. 



AA. Fore-legs slender, fitted for running. PELOGONUS. 



Our three species are Mononyx stygicus, Galgulus oculdtus, and 

 Pelogonus americdnus. Fig. 161 represents the Galgulus; the Mon- 

 onyx closely resembles this in form ; while the Pelogonus is a smaller 

 insect, with a more oblong body, and of a velvety black color. All 

 of the species are predaceous. 



Family XVII. — Saldid.i:.- 



With the Sdldida we reach the beginning of the extensive series 

 of families of Heteroptera, in which the antenna- are prominent and 

 are not concealed beneath the head. In this family the insects are 

 of small size, and of dark colors, with white or yellow markings. 

 The head stands out free from the thorax on a cylindrical base. 

 The antennas are four-jointed ; there are two ocelli ; the 

 rostrum is three-jointed and very long, reaching to or 

 beyond the middle coxae. The membrane of the wing- 

 covers is furnished with looped veins, forming four or 

 five long cells placed side by side. Occasionally there 

 is little or no distinction between the corium and mem- 

 brane. Two forms sometimes occur in the same species, 

 one with a distinct membrane, and another with the membrane 

 thickened and almost as coriaceous as the corium proper. 



In regard to the habits of the Saldidae, Uhler states as follows: 

 " In the present family we have types which, like Galgulus, make 

 links for themselves, and live for a part of the time beneath the 

 ground. Like the members of that genus, too, a majority of these 

 inhabit damp soils, and are often found in countless numbers on the 

 salt or brackish marshes of our sea-coasts. Their manners strongly 

 recall those of the Tiger-beetles that inhabit the same places. When 

 approached, or in any way disturbed, the}' leap from the ground, 

 arise a few feet into the air by means of their wings, and alight a 



Saldidae: Salda, a proper 1. 



