12 THE BRITISH HEMIPTERA. 



species in the volume, is piobably the most puzzling and per- 

 plexing group of these insects, and the change of colour that 

 takes place in dead specimens adds not a little to the difficulty 

 of accurately determining the species. The authors observe 

 at p. 483, ** for the most part the insects composing this sec- 

 tion, especially those that are green, fade much in colour 

 after death. All have been described from specimens with 

 their wings expanded, as without this being done their true 

 characters cannot be ascertained, because the different colour 

 of the upperside of the abdomen shining through changes 

 their natural appearance." 



One observation relating to the habits of those insects oc- 

 curs at p. 496, " Individuals of this species (Anthocoris 

 nemorimi), and also of A. ne7noralis, are often found in the 

 bladdery mines made on the leaves of oaks by the larvae of 

 the genus Litliocolletis {Lepidoptera), and Mr. Stainton 

 once saw an Anthocoris outside one of such mines, with its 

 rostrum thrust through the loosened lower cuticle of the leaf, 

 sucking the juices of the larva witliin." 



Of the family Saldidce we read at p. 517, " all the species 

 live on the margins of ponds and rivers, or on the sea-coast, 

 running, jumping and flying with great activity, and very 

 difficult to catch." 



At p. 558, we read that "the Hydrometrce live on the 

 surfice of running or stagnant water, where they propel them- 

 selves rapidly by the rowing motion of their second and third 

 pairs of legs, feeding upon any insects that may come in their 

 way, catching them by springing upon them. They can also 

 dive when alarmed." And at p. 562, we read oi Hydrometra 

 7iajas, "The apterous form is common on streams from April 

 to October, where the insects run with great rapidity against 

 the current; but among hundreds of examples, taken at dif- 

 ferent periods of the summer, we never found one with wings. 



