112 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



ing on the steins of grass or water weeds around. One 

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

 legs ; but Yelia 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 conies 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 pupae of Hemiptera feeds as heartily 

 as fhe perfect insect. This Notonecta is a fierce and power- 

 ful enemy to all smaller aquatic insects, transfixing them 

 with his sharp proboscis, and sucking their life away. 



REDUVIUS, 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 



