EEPORT ON THE PELAGIC HEMIPTEEA. 37 



base is a very short nec-k, above wliicli the troclianter suddenly widens, and curves 

 upwards and inwards ; it is then for half the length somewhat cylindiical, while the 

 ai^ical half narrows to a point above, and below is triangularly cleft to receive the femur. 

 The trochanter is more or less pubescent, and is sometimes armed on the inner side with 

 small teeth or spines. 



The Femur (PI. III. fig. 15,/) is much the longest joint. It is somewhat incrassate at 

 the base, and becomes gradually thinner to aliout the middle, after wliic-h it is for a little 

 way of equal thickness, and then is gradually and slightly incrassated to the apex. It 

 is more or less pubescent, and is usually armed with small spines or teeth pointing 

 backwards, and arranged in a series on the inner side from base to apex ; more rarely 

 the spines are irregularly scattered. 



The Tibia (PI. III. figs. 15 and 1 G, ti.) is shorter and less stout than the femur, cylindrical, 

 and slightly and gradually attenuate from Ijase to apex. It may be armed like the femur, 

 or be unarmed. On the inn(n' edge is one or more series of fiattened cu-cular tubercles, 

 from which arise hairs (usually more or less curved at the apex), increasing in number 

 and length towards the apex of the joint. From out of this line of curved hairs springs 

 a fringe of very long hairs, many times longer than the diameter of the tibia, and 

 naturally straight but easily bent. At the base of the joint these hairs are few, but their 

 number and their length increase towards the apex. 



The Tarsus (PL III. figs. 15 and 16, ta.) is two-jointed, the first joint being longer than 

 the second, but varying in its relative length in the different species. The fir.st joint 

 (PL III. fig. 16, ta. 1) is cylindrical, and a little incrassate at the base. Its inner edge 

 is furnished with hairs similar to those on the inner edge of the tiliia ; towards the 

 apex of the joint those hairs diminish in length (PL III. fig. 17). Approximate 

 measurements of this joint (taken aljout the middle) give (in willlerstorffi) the diameter 

 of the joint '08 mm. ; length of the hairs on the inner side "OSS mm.; of the curved short 

 fringe '05 mm.; and of the long fringe "4 mm. In sericeus the corresponding measure- 

 ments are "05 mm.; '025 mm.; '05 mm. and '4 mm. The second joint (PL III. figs. 

 15 and 16, ta. 2) is cylindrical, and bears on its inner side a line of short curved hairs, 

 similar to that on the first joint, but without the long hairs. Not far from the apex on 

 the inner side is a notch or excavation, from which to the apex runs a furrow, in which lie 

 two straight claws. Arising from between the claws is a ribbon-like process similar to 

 that on the front tarsus. Between the notch and the apex the joint is thinner than before 

 the notch, and on its outer side arises, some way before the tip, one or two long stout 

 hairs, more or less abruptly bent at the apex, and extending beyond the end of the joint. 

 The length of the claws is, in wilUerstorffi, about '085 mm., and of the longest hair on the 

 opposite side of the joint '2 mm. (the ordinary hau-s there being "05 mm.). In sericeus 



the claws are "08 mm. long. 



