190 i. \-rxo: .'OI.OGY. 



ocelli; the antenna.' consist of four >imple segments, arc Very > ] 

 and 'ed beneath the trum is three-jointed, 



by the large, trail ; iangular or rounded 



labrum, aiul the wing-cov -urm'shed with a distinct cmbo- 



lium. 



The members of this family are predaceous ; and, accordii 1 

 Uhler. they are fond of reedy and grassy, quiet waters, wh< 



; )out like the Dyticid beetles, creeping and half-swimming 

 around and between the leaves and sprays of the submerged plants, 

 and suddenly seizing any unlucky Lvrisa or other insect that hap; 

 to be within reach. 



The family is a small on t, less than fifty species h 



ribcd. These are distributed among twelve genera. Of tli 

 that occur in the United States, only five species, representing two 

 genera, have been described. Hut one of these is found in the St.. 

 on the Atlantic coast. This is l\'ldcons fcmorata. It measures 

 about 9 mm. (0.35 in.) in length, and after death is pale yellov. 

 brownish in color, with black or dark-brown markings. The remaining 

 are found in the Western States, and belong to the genus 

 Ambrysus. This genus differs from Pclocoris in having the front 

 margin of the prothorax very deeply sinuate. 



Family XVI. (i\i <,CLIM:.* 



The ('nilgiilitlic is the concluding member of th of fami- 



lies of Heteroptera characterized by short antenna-, nearly or quite- 

 concealed beneath the head. This family differs from the other 

 families of the series in that the present a pair of ocelli. In 



the more typical forms, the body is very broad and short, and the 

 prominent and projecting. Fig. \(>\ represents 

 the cha fclC form of these- ins, 



The (ialgulida: differ from tin- other short-horned bugs 

 in habits. Whilst th<- members of the preceding families 

 truly aquatic, the- pass their lives on the 



muddy margin , tins, or about the other part 



marshes, where the s.il is moist but not continuously 

 sub- Some of them make holes for th< 



and live for a part of the time 1>< -n- -ath the ground. 



Thi nail family, containing only about a ! known 



* GalgOlidac: gMgulus, the witwall or ycilow thrush. 



