HUNGERFORD: AQUATIC HEMIPTERA. 39 



will be done, beginning -vvith those being the least adapted, and 

 ending with those with most perfect adaptation to an aquatic 

 life. 



LOCOMOTION. 



In the matter of locomotion of those forms that live upon the 

 waters and shores adjacent, we find all gradations from those 

 that venture but timidly upon the water to those that boldly 

 set forth upon the deep. In fact, there are some that fre- 

 quent the banks and are found upon the waters only by acci- 

 dent. Such are the Saldidae, Ochteridse and Gelastocoridae. 

 The first family is so called because of the jumping propen- 

 sities of its members. 



As a matter of fact, the members of all three families jump. 

 The first are extremely agile, running and jumping with alac- 

 rity, using the wings in tremendously quick flights of a few 

 inches. The last named run or go bumping along like toads. 

 Unlike the well-known Saltatores among the Orthoptera, the 

 hind femora are not notably enlarged. The hind coxae, how- 

 ever, in some at least, are considerably thickened. The spines 

 of the hind tibia, instead of being arranged on the caudal side, 

 as in grasshoppers and Jassids, are arranged on the opposite 

 and inner side. The middle tibia possesses a few spines, the 

 hind tibia and tarsus many. When the live insect is studied 

 in respect to its locomotion, the position of the limbs makes 

 their armament vei^^ clear. These insects rest %\ith femora 

 of hind limbs at right angles to the body, and the front 

 side of the long tibia often in contact with the ground. The 

 tarsal claws are terminal and the fore and middle tibiae of the 

 Saldidse bear on their inner distal end tibial combs. 



An examination of the members of these three families indi- 

 cates a superficial resemblance, with the Ochterid bridging the 

 gap between the Gelastocoridae and the Saldidae. 



The Hebridse observed by the writer, though occupying the 

 same territory as the Saldids, are equipped more like the 

 Microvelias. The body is covered with a short pile. The 

 limbs, fore and middle, possess tibial combs. The claws are, 

 however, terminal, and in this respect distinguish them from 

 the Microvelias. 



The above shore bugs are followed by a mixed lot that extend 

 their range to the floating vegetation. Here belong the Micro- 

 velias, Mesovelias and Hydrometras. All of these have the 



