242 Rev. L. Jenyns on three undescribed species of Cimex. 



swallows*, which he thought would prove to be distinct from 

 the common bed-bug f. A year or two since I had occasion 

 to destroy a great number of martins' nests, when I found 

 them swarming with the species just alluded to, which on 

 being compared with the C. lectularius of authors, offered se- 

 veral obvious differences. A short time afterwards I obtained 

 a third species, equally distinct and equally well characterized, 

 from the Pipistrelle bat, to which I can find no allusion what- 

 ever. And very lately I have been favoured by Mr. West- 

 wood with specimens of a fourth species found on pigeons, 

 which though often met with before, has not been generally 

 considered as distinct from the one found in houses. I beg 

 to draw the attention of entomologists to these three unde- 

 scribed insects, which acquire an interest from their parasitic 

 habits, beyond what they might possess on other accounts. 

 As they are all closely allied to the common bed-bug which 

 is so well known, 1 shall not enter into a detailed account of 

 their characters ; but merely point out the differential marks 

 by which each is distinguished from the others as well as from 

 the C. lectularius of authors. And I shall commence with 

 the species found on pigeons, from its bearing a closer resem- 

 blance to the one just mentioned than either of the two others. 



C, columbarius, Nob. 



On comparing this species with the common house-bug, it 

 will be found to be smaller and of a more orbicular form. The 

 antenncE are shorter, and the joints not quite so slender ; and 

 the difference in length between the third and fourth joints 

 not so considerable. The thorax is rather less hollowed out 

 in front, the anterior angles less produced, and the sides less 

 reflexed. The abdomen more nearly approaches to round, 

 the lateral margins being very much curved, and the greatest 

 breadth exactly in the middle ; whereas in the house-bug the 

 lateral margins are at first but little curved, and the greatest 

 breadth rather behind the middle. The colours, as well as the 



* Reg. Anim. (2nd edit.) torn. v. p. 201. 



t There is also allusion to *' the discovery of a new and winged species of 

 Cimex (C. domesiica)" by M. Schilling, in the "Journal of Proceedings of 

 the Entomological Society of London," (vol. i. p. 4.) but neither its cha- 

 racter nor its habitat are annexed. 



