BUGS 49 



at the bottom of shallow waters. The " boatman " 

 swims on its back under water, and is very agile, 

 using its long hind-legs with the skill of a practised 

 sculler, but comes frequently to the surface to breathe 

 and when submerged carries a supply of air entangled 

 among the hairs of its body. Like all other water- 

 bugs, Notonecta is carnivorous. It feeds on aquatic 

 creatures, and is strong enough to master a good-sized 

 minnow. A prick from its sucking beak is almost as 

 painful as a bee's sting. 



The Corixidtz, of which there are numerous British 

 species, may be represented by Covixa geoffvoyi. At 

 first glance this insect might be confused with the 

 water-boatman, but it may be known by the fact that 

 the back of the head is not overlapped by the prono- 

 tum, as is the case in Notonecta. Both species have 

 well-developed wings, and are thus able to fly from 

 one pond or lake to another. Their habits are also 

 similar, although Covixa seems to be more completely 

 at home beneath the water, and comes less frequently 

 to the surface. 



The second sub-order of the Hemiptera includes the 

 frog-hoppers, aphides, scale insects, and their allies. 

 They are called Homoptera, and seem at first 

 sight to be a rather mixed assemblage ; but they 

 agree in several important features. Unlike the 

 Heteroptera, the front part of the head the " face " 

 slopes strongly backwards, so that the mouth-parts, 

 when not in use, are in contact with the coxae of the 

 fore-legs. Moreover, the fore-wings, though some- 

 times firmer in texture than the hind-wings, are never 

 distinctly hardened at their bases; while, when in 

 repose, the wings do not lie flat, but are held more or 

 less roof-wise over the abdomen. In their life- 



