THE PENTATOMID^. 117 



wounds : the last joint of the antennae is often very 

 slender, and even setaceous ; the body more lengthened 

 and narrow than in the former family ; the head re- 

 markably small, the neck contracted and exserted,and the 

 eyes very prominent. The whole of this family are 

 raptorial, feeding entirely upon other insects which they 

 capture and suck : some are terrestrial, while others 

 are sub-aquatic, and appear to lead to the next, — 3. The 

 Nepidce, or water scorpions : these comprehend the 

 largest of aU the tribe, and are immediately known by 

 the extreme shortness of the antennae, which are in- 

 serted and nearly concealed under the eyes. Like the 

 last family, they are carnivorous, and seize their prey by 

 their raptorial fore-feet. The tarsi have never more 

 than two joints; and the hind legs, in general, are cili- 

 ated for the purpose of swimming. The two remaining 

 families, in the absence of the requisite analysis, we 

 shall not venture to characterise. One may probably 

 be represented by the common bed bug, which, from 

 its general structure, and from being apterous in all its 

 stages, seems to form a family type, particularly from 

 its analogy to the Coccidce in the next tribe. JBut on 

 the 5th, which, from theory, we suppose would repre- 

 sent the CentronotidcB, we are confessedly ignorant ; nor 

 can this deficiency be supplied until the natural station 

 of such genera as Velia, Gerris, and some others has 

 been worked out. Under these circumstances, the slight 

 notice of the principal genera which seem to belong to 

 the three primary groups first mentioned, is all that 

 can be at present attempted ; after which we shall enter 

 more at large into the remaining tribes of the order. 



(114.) The PentatomidcB, as we apply the term in pre- 

 ference to creating a new one, must not be considered so 

 exclusively and restrictively as its usual application 

 would imply. Its definition, given above, shows that it 

 comprises many insects not before included in it. It 

 consists of three large families of the more recent sys- 

 tematists, — namely, the Scutati, Corel, and Li/gm. It is 

 thus seen to embrace many interesting forms, which are 



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