126 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



in these, the head is short, and the antennae nearly as 

 long as the anterior legs. This is the case also in Ha- 

 lobates, which is an extremely remarkable insect, found 

 only upon the surface of the sea, within the tropics, and 

 at a considerable distance from land. They must, ne- 

 cessarily, he exposed to the worst vicissitudes of a sea 

 life, being unprovided with wings, to accelerate their 

 transposition from place to place. It is also a very 

 curious subject for speculation, what may be their pecu- 

 liar economy and habits, and where they may deposit 

 their eggs. Of the other genera, all are British. The 

 pretty little Velias, with their black bodies studded with 

 white spots, and the gay crimson of their abdomen, pre- 

 sent a pleasing appearance upon brooks ; and the ex- 

 tremely minute Hydroessa has all the appearance of a 

 microscopic aquatic Pentatoma. [(11 4 1 17.) W. E. Sh.] 

 (118.) The CICADA, or singing insects, have been 

 already shown to constitute the sub-typical group of 

 the present order. Like the Cimicides, they have a 

 suctorial proboscis folded downwards and reposing on 

 the breast ; but their wings do not cross each other, but 

 are deflexed when the insect is at rest. Their antennae, 

 instead of being at once conspicuous, and ending in 

 well-defined joints, are so short that they often appear 

 as wanting. On a close examination, however, two fine 

 hairs or bristles are discovered, placed close to the eye : 

 these bristles stand upon short and thick stems, which 

 are more or less jointed at the base. The wings are 

 always distinctly nerved ; the upper pair being stronger 

 and thicker than the lower, and either transparent, or 

 ornamented with colours. The head is usually very 

 large, thick, and transverse ; that is, much wider from 

 side to side than from the front to the back ; the fore- 

 head consequently is uncommonly broad, and this throws 

 the eyes very far apart : between the true eyes, by the 

 aid of a glass, three little ocelli, or false eyes, will be 

 discovered*, shining like morsels of glass; while the 



* Excepting in the Membracidcc. 



