FEBRUARY. 43 



like halteres ; antennas much longer in the males than 

 in the females ; the latter have no wings ; body elon- 

 gated in the males, short and globose in the other 

 sex ; size very small. 



ORDER XL HETEROPTERA, Latreille. 



Characters. Wings four, anterior pair larger than the posterior, 

 wrapping partly over each other ; basal part coriaceous, the rest 

 membranaceous ; antennae generally long and filiform ; mouth arising 

 from the front of the head. 



SECTION I, 

 HYDROCORISA. Those residing in water. 



1. Notonectidce. Hind legs long and hairy, forming a pair 



of oars ; fore legs short and curved, for catching their 

 prey ; elytra deflexed ; antennae inserted beneath the 

 eyes, and four-jointed ; rostrum short and thick, capa- 

 ble of inflicting a painful wound ; body boat-shaped. 



2. Nepidce. Fore legs raptorial, formed for seizing their 



prey, the others made for creeping ; antennae short and 

 variable ; rostrum short and robust ; body depressed 

 and sometimes furnished with two long filaments ; 

 head small ; colour dull brown in both families. 



