HEMIPTERA, COMMONLY CALLED BUGS. 151 



agreeable one. This, however, is only perceptible if thevare 

 handled while alive. It ceases with death, and there is no 

 necessity to touch any of them with the fingers until such is 

 the case. 



The end of summer and autumn is the great season for 

 them. They are found everywhere ; and the number of 

 species belonging to Great Britain is at present an unascer- 

 tained fact. Mr. Douglas and myself are engaged on a 

 work intended to supply this deficiency, — for deficiency it is, 

 — and we desire to have the co-operation of all genuine 

 naturalists throughout the Islands. Our own exertions since 

 we took the matter in hand have been signally successful ; 

 but we know that a great deal more may be learned from a 

 distance than we are capable of working out alone ; as, for 

 instance, the distribution and variation of species, —whether 

 they are particularly partial to the same plant or plants 

 throughout the range of distribution, — what species are local, 

 and whether occurring singly or in companies. If it were 

 possible — and indeed what Mr. Douglas and myself most 

 desire — to have the assistance of some one in each county, 

 the value of our undertaking would be amazingly increased. 

 Large tracts of sandy country are almost certain to be very 

 prolific ; and indeed the very fact of there being so much 

 sand on the Continent, covered as it always is with many 

 low plants, thereby afibrding the creatures a dry shelter at 

 all times, is the secret, in a great measure, that renders the 

 doings of the naturalist a success. 



For collecting, it is necessary to be provided with a net, 

 which can be contrived so as to answer three purposes : first^ 

 for beating into ; second, for sweeping the herbage, heath, 

 &c. ; and thirds for water purposes, as there are many 

 species to be found in ponds, some of them familiarly known 

 by the cognomens of " Boatmen," " Toe-biters," ** Water- 



