1889.] 
E. T. Atkinson — Catalogue of the Capsidae. 
25 
/ 
II. — Catalogue of the Insecta. 
Order Rtiynchota. 
Suborder Hemiptera-Heteroptera. 
Family Capsidas. 
By E. T. Atkinson, B. A. 
Astemmites, Laporte, Esa. des Hem., 1835, p. 36. 
Capsini, Barm., Handb. Ent., ii, 1835, p. 263. 
Bicelluli, Am. and Sorv., Hist. Nat. Ins. Hem., 1843, p. 275. 
Phytocoridae, Fieber, Eur. Horn., 1801, p. 26. 
Isometopidae, Fieber, l. c., p. 20. 
Capsidae, Westw., Intr. Mod. Class. Ins., ii, 1840, p. 479 : Reuter, Hem. 
Gymn. Eur., i, 1879, p. 13. 
Mr. Distant in his introduction* to the Capsidae of Central America 
writes : — “ The members of this family are readily recognised by the 
elongated and 4. jointed antennae, of which the second joint is frequently 
more or less thickened at the apex, and the two terminal joints are more 
or less slender, and also, and principally, by the corium terminating in a 
distinctly differentiated section called the cuneus. If we except a very 
considerable knowledge of the Palsearctic Capsidae, and a less acquain- 
tance with those of the Nearctic region, we may safely presume to say 
that those of the Ethiopian, Oriental, and Australian regions, are practi- 
cally unworked and unknown.” This statement as to our knowledge of 
the Capsidae is true to the present day as regards the Ethiopian, Oriental, 
and Australian regions. Dr. Stal did much for the Capsidae of Brazil, 
Dr. Berg, for those of the Argentine Republic, and Mr. Distant has de- 
scribed and figured a considerable number from Central America. To 
commence the study of the extra-European old world Capsidae, it seemed 
necessary to catalogue those already described from all countries, and 
I now present this list to my fellow-entomologists as my contribution 
to the work. Ho attempt has ever been made to make a complete ca- 
talogue of the described species, and, indeed, it would have still been 
impossible to achieve it were it not for the labours of Reuter, Puton, 
Lethierry, Horvath, Uhler, and Ferrari, and especially the great works 
of the first-named author, which must ever remain the principal guides 
to the study of the family. 
The bibliographical table annexed gives the principal abbrevia- 
tions used in this catalogue and the full title of the works referred to. 
Fieber’s ‘ European Hemiptera ’ and Reuter’s ‘ Hemiptera Gymno- 
cerata Europae,’ are necessary aids to the student. For the fuller 
* Biol. Centr-Amer. Rhyn , 1883, p. 234. 
.D 
