FEBRUARY. ' 43 



like halteres ; antennse much longer in the males than 

 in the females ; the latter have no wings ; body elon- 

 gated in the males^ short and globose in the other sex ; 

 size very small. 



Order XI. HETEROPTERA, LatreiUe. 



Characters. — Wings four, anterior pair larger than the poste- 

 riorj wrapping partly over each other ; basal part coriaceous, the 

 rest membranaceous ; antenncB generally long and iihform ; moidh 

 arising from the front of the head. 



SECTION I. 



Hydrocorisa. — Those residing in water. 



1. NotonectidcB. — Hind legs long and hairy, forming a pair 



of oars ; fore legs short and curved, for catching their 

 prey; elytra deflexed; antennse inserted beneath the 

 eyes, and four-jointed ; rostrum short and thick, capa- 

 ble of inflicting a painful wound ; body boat-shaped. 



2. NepidcB. — Eore legs raptorial, formed for seizing their 



prey, the others made for creeping ; antennse short and 

 variable; rostrum short and robust; body depressed 

 and sometimes furnished with two long filaments ; 

 head small ; colour dull brown in both families. 



