464: MODERN CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 
reside, burying themselves in the sand, especially in the larva state. 
Fabricius, however, states that Mononyx raptoria “ habitat 7 Ame- 
rice meridionalis aquis.” (Syst. Rh. p.111.) M. Desjardin has, how- 
ever, described the habits of a Mauritian species, which is found 
under stones and wet leaves on the coast of Mauritius.* (Ann. Soc. 
Ent. France, 1837, p. 240.) 
The species, according to Burmeister, are peculiar to America; I, 
however, possess species from several parts of Africa; and Messrs. 
Hope and Darwin, as well as the Jardin des Plantes, possess species 
from New Holland; another, also, was found by M. Desjardin in the 
island of Mauritius. In Calliaud’s work on Egypt another species is 
evidently represented in vol. ii. pl. 58. f.28. Latreille described it 
doubtingly as a Pentatoma, the specimen having been lost, but the 
figure leaves scarcely any doubt that it is one of this family. I also 
possess a pupa of Galgulus from the interior of South America, which 
differs from the imago in the smaller size of the prothorax, and broader 
mesothorax, which, as well as the metathorax, has rudimental wing- 
covers ; the tarsi of the hind legs appear only 1-jointed, like the fore 
tarsi, with two ungues; the eyes are very prominent, and the ocelli 
wanting ; the larva of Mononyx, described by Serville and St. Far- 
geau (Enc. Méth. tom. x. p. 271.), differs (like the imago) in the less 
prominent eyes ; the anterior tibia and tarsus are united into a hook, 
and the second abdominal segment is armed with a central recurved 
spine. 
The family is especially interesting with respect to the classifica- 
tion of the Heteroptera; agreeing with the typical Nepide in the 
prominent eyes, short rostrum, raptorial fore legs, and slender hind 
legs; but the evidently cursorial habits of the insects on the margin 
of water induces me to remove this family from the Hydrocorisa to 
the Aurocorisa. Burmeister adds the genus Pelogonus to this family ; 
but the structure of its rostrum indicates a closer relation with 
Acanthia. The present situation of the family, however, interrupts 
the passage from Naucoris to Acanthia, so beautifully effected by 
means of the genera Aphelocheirus and Pelogonus. 
* This species differs from all the others in having the elytra united together in a 
straight suture, and soldered to the seutellum without any wings. Messrs. Brullé 
and Serville in a supplemental notice, consider the elytra as wanting, and the insect 
as covered by a large scutellum. Having carefully examined Desjardin’s specimens 
in the collection at the Jardin des Plantes, I am convinced of the correctness of his 
description. 
