ODOUE OF THE PLANT-BUG. 665 



deposits some of its own — that highly scented fluid which has 

 already been mentioned, and, in consequence, so nauseous a 

 flavour is imjaarted to the fruit that no one can eat it. The 

 very odour is so j)Owerful that it generally suSices as a warning 

 to intending consumers. But, if by ill-chance one of them 

 should be taken into the mouth, the flavour and odour are so 

 utterly detestable that no one who has ever experienced them 

 will allow himself to be again deluded. I can speak rather 

 feelingly on this subject, having been victimised by this insect, 

 and having therefore learned to test every raspberry before I 

 venture to eat it. 



We now come to some very curious beings. On "Woodcut 

 LXVI. Figs. 1 and 2, is shown a remarkable insect, called 

 Systellonotus triguttatus. 



According to the older entomologists, this insect was placed 

 in the same family with that species which has just been 

 described. The modern entomologists, however, have broken 

 up the old family, with many others, and have placed this 

 insect in the family Idolocoridse. The insects of this genus 

 are remarkable for the shape of the abdomen, which is very 

 much narrowed or contracted at the base, where it joins the 

 thorax. The generic name Systellonotus is composed of two 

 Grreek words signifying narrowed-back, and is therefore a very 

 appropriate one. The shape of the abdomen can be best seen 

 by reference to Fig. 2, which represents the wingless female. 



The general colour of the male is reddish-brown, and over 

 the body is spread a thin coating of yellowish down, which 

 stands particularly upright. On each of the elytra are three 

 white diagonal bars, one of a silvery character and the others 

 greyish-white. It is from these three bars that the name of 

 triguttatus, or three-streaked, has been given to the species. 



The word guttatus is taken from the Latin gutta, or drop, 

 and is applied to marks that are made as if by a drop of 

 colour which had been allowed to run over the surface and then 

 become dry. A good idea of the true shape of the gutta may 

 be obtained by taking a white piece of paper, letting a drop of 

 ink fall on it, and then holding it diagonally, so that the ink 

 may trickle a little way down the paper. 



The female, as may be seen by reference to Fig. 2, is almost 



