STINK-BUG FAMILY. 87 
“Tt should not be concluded, however, that only members 
of this family possess this disagreeable odor; for most of the 
heteroptera protect themselves by rendering their bodies unpal- 
atable in this way. Doubtless birds soon learn this fact, and 
leave such bugs alone. But it is to members of this family that 
the expressive name given above is commonly applied. The 
nauseous odor is caused by a fluid which is excreted through two 
openings, one on each side of the lower side of the body near 
the middle coxe.” 
Fic; 82.—Metapodius femoratus Fab. Adult and immature. Original. 
The insects forming this large family possess five-jointed 
feelers; their body is short, broad, and rather thick. A large 
scutellum is always present; it is more or less flattened and tri- 
angular in outline, tapering to almost a point posteriorly. The 
lateral borders of the scutellum have a groove into which the 
wing-covers fit when not in use. In most members of this family 
head and prothorax together form a triangle; the tibiz are either 
unarmed or furnished with very fine short spines. Some mem- 
bers of the Pentatomide are predaceous, others are vegetable 
