1]6 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OP INSECTS. 



own circles. The tortoise beetles (^CassidtB) are the 

 types of the Monilicornes ; and who that looks at a 

 Coccus can doubt of one being intended, by Nature^ to 

 represent the other ? The Aphides, like the Capricorn 

 beetles, are remarkable for the great length of their 

 antennse ; a remote resemblance, indeed, but still a re- 

 semblance altogether in unison with the natural series in 

 which these groups are here placed. 



(113.) The typical tribe of the order before us is 

 that to which we give the name of Cjmicides, as cor- 

 responding, with a little variation, to the genus Cimex 

 of Linnffius. It comprises a very large assemblage of 

 insects, at once known by the upper wings being crossed 

 at their tips, one over the other, where they are thin 

 and membranaceous, the rest of the wing being of a 

 thicker and more opake substance : the rostrum or 

 mouth arises in front of the head; and the thorax (ac- 

 cording to the modern theory) is formed by the first 

 segment of the trunk : the scutellura is almost always 

 conspicuous, and is sometimes so enlarged as to cover 

 the whole body, and give the insect an appearance, at 

 first sight, of being coleopterous; the antennae, in the 

 typical groups, are linear, nearly of equal thickness, and 

 generally much longer than the head ; the joints being 

 very few, and distinctly seen, so as to produce angles : 

 the tarsi are of three joints, in such genera as are cur- 

 sorial, while those which are aquatic have but one or 

 two joints. Thus characterised, as a whole, we are dis- 

 posed to arrange the great majority of these insects into 

 the following primary groups : — 1. The Pentatomidce, 

 or wood bugs, having the rostrum long, slender, con- 

 cealed, and reposing upon the breast : the body is short, 

 oval, and generally half as broad as it is long: they Uve 

 for the most part upon vegetable juices ; but appear to 

 prey upon such smaller insects as come in their way, 

 probably at certain seasons. — 2. The ReduviidcF,, or ra- 

 pacious bugs, where the rostrum is very short, much 

 resembling the thick but curved and sharp bill of a 

 bird ; it is very acute, and capable of inflicting severe 



II 



