28 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



ON SOME AQUATIC KHYNCHOTA FKOM JAMAICA. 

 By G. W. Kirkaldy. 



The works of Uhler, Guerin, Poey, and others have made a 

 good foundation for a knowledge of the aquatic Bhynchota of 

 Cuba, Grenada, and St. Vincent, among the Antilles ; but it is 

 remarkable that, with the exception of two species, nothing has 

 been recorded from the large island of Jamaica. 



My kind friend Mr. C. B. Taylor has lately been collecting 

 for me in the vicinity of Kingston, and the results of his first 

 consignment are now recorded. 



1. Kallistometra, n. gen. 



Belonging to the family Gerridae and tribe Halobatitae. 



First segment of the antennas nearly twice as long as the second. 

 Pronotum short, mesonotum and metanotum well developed ; suture 

 between meso- and metasternum straight. Metasternum apparently 

 concealed by mesosternum. Posterior femora longer than interme- 

 diate, which are longer than anterior. Second segment of anterior 

 tarsi three times as long as the first. Claws inserted below the apices 

 of the tarsi. 



Differs from Trepobates, Uhler, in the incrassation of the 

 anterior femora, in the straightness of the posterior margin of 

 the mesonotum, &c. ; from Trejjobatopsis, Champion, in the 

 elongate oval form, in the visibility of the propleura from above, 

 in the straightness of the posterior margin of the mesonotum, &c. 

 The length of the abdomen, moreover, will distinguish it from 

 any of the smaller Halobatitae (Gerrinae with convex intero-lateral 

 ocular margins). 



Type. K. taylori, n. sp. 



5 . Apterous. First antennal segment two-thirds longer than the 

 head, nearly twice as long as the second segment. Eyes large, oblique. 

 Head longer than the short transverse pronotum, the breadth of which 

 is twice as great as its length. Mesonotum two and a half times as 

 long (along its median line) as the pronotum ; two-thirds longer than 

 the metanotum (along its median line). Metanotum triangularly pro- 

 duced at the base on either side of the middle point at an angle of about 

 135°. Pronotum and mesonotum not clearly sutured from their pleura. 

 Mesopleura produced triangularly over the metapleura. Labrum very 

 small, acutely triangular; rostrum reaching well beyond the apical 

 margin of the mesosternum. Posterior femur one-sixth longer than 

 the intermediate, which is three-quarters longer than the anterior ; 

 anterior femur one-half longer than the tibia, which is three-fifths 

 longer than the tarsi, second tarsal segment three times as long as the 

 first ; claws inserted about two-thirds of the length of the second seg- 

 ment from its base. Posterior femur about seven and one half times 



