THE STUDY OF LIFE-HISTORY. 117 



* Fam. Gerridre. 

 2, Gerris anadyomene, sp. nov. 



Belongs to subgenus Limnometra, Mayr. 



Flavous ; head with an irregular diamond and two lateral stripes, 

 pronotum with a median and two sublateral lines, irregular markings 

 on ambulacra, &c., black. Elytra dark greyish fulvous ; nervures 

 fulvous, apically, darker. Spines of seventh segment extending 

 beyond apex of abdomen, elytra extending far beyond apex of abdomen. 

 Male : seventh segment deeply, roundly emarginate veutrally. Long, 

 to apex of elytra 14 mill. 



Ckylon, Pundaluoya. CoUns. E. E. Green and Kirkaldy. 

 Larger and stouter than mimita (Mayr.), to which it is some- 

 what allied. 



3. Gerris sakuntala, sp. n. 



Belongs to subgenus Limnometra, Mayr, 



Black, closely set with pale golden pubescence ; a central line on 

 head and anterior lobe of pronotum, lateral margins of posterior lobe, 

 antennae, legs. &c., fulvous. Elytra infuscate, nervures pale golden, 

 pubescent. Venter pale flavous. Elytra extending far beyond apex 

 of abdomen. Long. 5^ mill. 



Ceylon, Pundaluoya (collns. E. E. Green and Kirkaldy). 



This lovely little Gerris is quite distinct in colouring from 

 any other Limnometra, and is specially distinguished by the 

 entire absence of any connexival spines. 



THE STUDY OF LIFE-HISTORY. 

 (Concluded from p. 97.) 



In studying the habits of living insects instead of too closely 

 confining our observations to captive specimens, we should, when 

 practicable, contrive to give at the same time constant attention 

 to the same species existing in a state of nature ; for the circum- 

 stance must never be overlooked, that it matters not how cunningly 

 we may endeavour to conceal the fact, nor how diligently we may 

 attend to food supply and other details, our types are nevertheless 

 living under purely artificial conditions. Captive insects will 

 teach us much, and will more often than not prove the source 

 from whence most of our information is gleaned, but we should 

 still regard them more in the light of qualified teachers or guides 

 whose principal usefulness lies in the furnishing us with valuable 

 hints and data upon which to base and work out our study of 

 their species in the open, rather than as the sole origin from 

 which our knowledge is to be derived. It is in all probability 



* These species will be treated more fully and figured in another place. 



