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the student of this order should carefully study the characteristics of 

 each family ; these are well defined, and by no means difficult to 

 appreciate (I have given tables of them in my "Hemiptera Heteroptera 

 of the British Isles "), but the characters assigned to the genera are 

 often very difficult to seize, especially those employed in the Capsidce : 

 the species, however, when the genus has been rightly determined, 

 are, as a rule, comparatively easy to distinguish ; and on the whole 

 I think even a beginner may take up the order with a fair prospect 

 of soon making himself reasonably well acquainted with it. I am 

 of course speaking of the order as it is represented in this country. 

 The number even of Palcearctic species is very great, and that of the 

 species of the world must be quite appalling. I hope I have said 

 enough to show that the Hemiptera afford plenty of scope for study, 

 and that they will amply repay any amount of attention given to 

 them. Allow me to conclude by saying that I shall always be happy 

 to help anyone in the determination of his captures, or to show my 

 collection to any of your members who may at any time find them- 

 selves in the neighbourhood of Woking, and call upon me at " St. 

 Ann's." 



