322 INSECTS. 



scutellum, and the thorax and wing-cases (which are 

 strongly veined), are reduced to the usual size the latter, 

 indeed, being rather below this, as they do not entirely 

 conceal the abdomen. 



In the genus Aneurus (containing one species, Icevis) 

 the wing-cases are entirely without nerves. They are 

 sluggish insects, and live on the juices of plants. 



In the genus Acalypta (containing only one species, 

 carinatus) , the rule of Heteroptera is broken by the 

 wing-cases meeting in a straight line like those of a 

 Beetle ; while in the genus Agramma (containing only 

 one species, Iceta), another exception to the rule is found 

 in the wing-cases being of uniform texture throughout. 



Capsidse contains both more genera and more species 

 than any other family, the species numbering more than 

 eighty. They are small, soft, delicate-looking insects, 

 with long antennae, which generally, but not always, are 

 slender towards the tip, and much thicker below. This 

 peculiarity is conspicuous in Capsus spissicornis 

 (PI. XIII., fig. 4), a common little dark insect, which, 

 small as it is (about three-eighths of an inch in length), 

 is likely to attract observation from this circumstance 

 the antennas are about three-fourths the length of the 

 body, and thick enough greatly to increase the apparent 

 size and importance of their small owner. 



Another common species is Capsus flavomaculatus 

 (Fabr.), which measures rather more than a quarter of 

 an inch, and may be known by its black thorax and hem- 

 elytra, the latter banded with yellow ; the legs are yellow, 

 and the membranous part of the fore-wings is beautifully 

 iridescent. The family generally is marked by the fore- 

 wings and hemelytra, the horny part of which is " ter- 

 minated by a large triangular piece, like a stigma, the 



