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Order II. 

 HEMIPTERA 



1 HE word Hemiptera, which signifies half 

 wings, is expressive of the semi-coriaceous, or 

 parchment-like state of the Elytra in the insects 

 of this Order. In the Coleoptera, the elytra 

 are separated from each other by a suture, and 

 are perfectly coriaceous. In the Order Hemi- 

 ptera, the wing-cases do not meet together in 

 the same manner, but have their inferior mar- 

 gins crossed, or laid one over the other, and 

 the upper half is often of a horny nature, while 

 the lower half is a perfectly transparent mem- 

 brane. In this respect, there is a considerable 

 deviation, i. e. in the proportion of the coria- 

 ceous matter which partly composes the upper 

 wings. In some it is considerable, while in 



