HETEROPTERA ; LAND-BUGS. 191 



pass the whole winter ; and it is not until the succeeding spring, 

 that the characters of the sexes, which are henceforth to be so 

 distinct, begin to show themselves. 



787. Sub-order II. HETEROPTERA. By far the greater 

 number of the Insects of this group feed, like the preceding, 



upon the juices of plants ; but some 

 of them prey upon other and weaker 

 Insects ; and a few species (of 

 which the numbers, however, 

 sometimes multiply to a great ex- 

 tent) suck the juices of larger ani- 

 mals. The majority of the species 

 are found in tropical climates ; and 

 the species that inhabit those re- 

 no. 517.-PENTATOMA. gions, Sire mostly ornamented with 

 a great variety of beautiful colours 



and markings, which often vie with those of the most splendid 

 >f the Beetle tribes. Many species, however, are of aquatic 

 labits ; and these are all of an obscure or black colour. Nearly 

 ill the terrestrial species have the power of emitting, when 

 they are suddenly alarmed or touched, a strong odour ; which 

 is of a pleasing character in some species, but which in others 

 (as the common Bed-bug) is very disgusting. Many of them 

 seem to inject a poisonous fluid into the wound which they make 

 for the purpose of suction. In some species, the wings are alto- 

 gether undeveloped ; or the lower pair is wanting. They 

 may be divided into two sections, distinguished by their resi- 

 dence, and by the modifications of their structure in accordance 

 with it ; the GEOCORIS^, or Land-Bugs ; and the HYDRO- 

 CORISJE, or Water-Bugs. 



788. Section I. GEOCORIS^E. This section contains a large 

 number of families ; nearly all of which, however, bear a strong 

 general resemblance to that which includes the common Bugs, 

 .the CiMiciDvE. Some of the tropical species attain considerable 

 size, and they are much dreaded by the inhabitants of the regions 

 they infest. Most of the Geocorisaa, however, are vegetable- 

 feeders ; and it is among these that the most brilliant colours 



