560 APHANIPTERA. 
men representing the sting-tipped tail, and the raptorial fore-legs resembling 
the claws. It is with these legs that the Water Scorpion catches its prey, 
which, when once grasped in that hooked extremity, is never able to make its 
escape. The beak is short, but very strong and sharp, and is not bent under 
the thorax as is the case with that of the water boatman. 
The next section of the Heteroptera includes insects which are mostly 
terrestrial, though some are fond of haunting the surface of water. The 
Hydrometride are well-known examples of the latter insects, and are popu- 
larly known by the name of Water-fleas. The common Gerris skims over the 
surface with wonderful rapidity, wheeling and turning as easily as a skat r 
performing his manceuvres on the smooth ice. But the Hydrometra, a very 
slender creature, hardly thicker than a needle, and bearing a great resem- 
blance to the well-known Walking-stick Insect, glides slowly over the surface, 
mostly keeping among the aquatic plants at the margin, and passing silently 
as a shadow over the water. 
The family of the Cimicide is represented by the too common BED-BUG, a 
creature which is supposed to have been imported into England from 
America. This odoriferous, flat-bodied, rust-coloured insect has derived its 
very appropriate name from the old English word dugge, signifying a nocturnal 
spectre, and used in that sense by the old writers. These creatures are 
enabled, by means of their flat bodies, to creep into the smallest crevices; 
and when they have once taken possession uf a room, can be with difficulty 
extirpated. 
The Reduviidz comprise a great number of terrestrial insects, mostly exotic, 
but a few being natives of our country. Some of them are very large, and 
one species, the WHEEL-BUG (Ardlus serratus), is said to possess electric 
powers. Its popular name is derived from the curious shape of the prothorax, 
which is elevated and notched, so as to resemble a portion of a cog-wheel. 
One species, Reduvius personatus, inhabits houses, and is said to feed upon 
the bed-bug. The larva and pupa of this insect are difficult to discover, on 
account of their habit of enveloping themselves in a coating of dust. The 
HAMMATOCERUS belongs to this family. The insect is remarkable for the 
curious structure of the second joint of the antennee, which consists of 
numerous small articulations. The generic title is derived from two Greek 
words, signifying “ link-horned,” and is given to the insect in allusion to this 
peculiarity. 
APHANIPTERA. 
WE now come to another order, deriving its name from the invariable - 
absence of wings, the name being derived from two Greek words, the former 
signifying “invisitle,” and the latter 
“a wing.” Thre are not many spe- 
cies belonging to this order, and they 
are all known by the popular name of 
Fleas. 
The strength and agility of the 
curious but annoying little insect the 
FLEA is perfectly wonderful. Many 
of my readers have doubtless seen the 
exhibition of the Industrious Fleas, 
who drew litt'e carriages, and carried 
comparatively heavy weights with the 
greatest ease. The apparatus with 
which it extracts the blood of its victims is very curious, and forms a beautiful 
object under a microscope of low power. Its leap is tremendous in propor- 
THE FLES. - (4 ul x irritans.) 
