THE REDUVIID^. 121 



The most remarkable form, perhaps, among the Lygai, 

 is the Microphysa pselapho'ides Burm. which has only 

 abbreviated elytra, and is totally deficient in its interior 

 wings. 



(115.) Our second circle, the REDUVIID^E, consists, we 

 expect, of the following three families : 1 . the Cap- 

 sini; 2. the Tingi; and, 3. the Reduvii. Possibly, Cimex 

 lectularius may form a fourth family belonging to this 

 group. All these insects we shall find considerably 

 more rapacious than those of the preceding circle ; and 

 although in Capsus, and its immediate affinities, it is 

 not quite so strongly instanced, so do they, doubtlessly, 

 on this account, form the connecting link between the 

 two. In the Capsini, we observe throughout the total 

 absence of ocelli ; and, although there are but few dis- 

 tinct generic forms in this family, their deficiency is 

 fully compensated by an overwhelming preponderance 

 in species. The insects are small, and have long and 

 slender antenna and legs, which, in Miris, are longer 

 than the body. The Harpocera Burmeixteri Curt., in 

 the male, is remarkable for the apical contortion of the 

 second joint of the antennse. In Heterotoma, the 

 second joint of the antennae is much enlarged, and very 

 much compressed : and in the little plump Orthonotus, 

 the posterior femora are considerably thickened, and the 

 tibire and tarsi exceedingly slender, and twice the length 

 of the femora ; and this last genus possesses the faculty 

 of leaping. From the Capsini we pass to the Tingi, 

 the second family of this group ; and here we observe 

 remarkable differences of form ; the most typical being 

 exceedingly depressed, their whole external integument 

 and hemelytra frequently consisting of a closely reti- 

 culated semitransparent substance, which, in Gakatus 

 Curt,, is extremely pellucid. Although the antennae 

 differ from the description given above in the definition 

 of the group, it is very evident, from the structure of 

 the rostrum and of the head, that these insects have a 

 close affinity to the Reduvii. It will admit of sub- 

 division into those which have simple anterior legs,. 



