Objects for the Microscope. 107 



against small streams, walking lightly on the still water, 

 and resting on the stems of grass or water weeds around. 

 One species (Gerris) has a long thin black body and very 

 long legs ; but Velia may be known by its scarlet spots on 

 each side of its body. The two-jointed sucker and the 

 wing-cases should be carefully examined. 



NOTONECTA, OR THE WATER-BOATMAN, 



is a beautiful preparation, exhibiting the retractile sucker, 

 which is a formidable weapon, and pricks sharply; the 

 eyes very large ; the hind-legs fringed with long hairs and 

 in the form of oars, which it uses with great rapidity, 

 rowing or swimming always on the back, and looking like 

 a canoe propelled by a clever boatman. The eggs of this 

 insect are found abundantly on the other side of Water- 

 lily leaves, or of Potomageton ; small flask-like eggs 

 through which, in an advanced state, the red eyes of the 

 little Notonecta may be seen, and when it comes forth, it 

 only resembles its parent in its feathered legs and quick 

 movements, having no wings until it has moulted several 

 times, and changed from the larva to the pupa state, in 

 which, however, it is by no means inactive, for the pupa 

 of Hemiptera feeds as heartily as the perfect insect. This 

 Notonecta is a fierce and powerful enemy to all smaller 

 aquatic insects, transfixing them with his sharp proboscis, 

 and sucking their life away. 



REDUYIUS, OR BED-BUG, 



is one of this order, and the sucker, though short, is very 

 strong, and capable of producing much pain. 



CIMEX, OR FIELD-BUG. 



These are beautiful objects when mounted. The head is 

 prolonged like a snout, more or less triangular ; and the 

 sheath of the sucker is composed of four distinct joints ; 

 they prey upon other insects ; the body is often brightly 

 coloured and spotted. We find them abundantly on long 

 grass or field flowers in the hot days of summer, and one 



