C. Hay Murray 
279 
the work, although painstaking and full of acute observation, was in 
many places defective and inaccurate. The writer therefore submits 
the results of his own original research, indicating where and how 
his findings differ from those of Landois, having in every case of 
difference done that part of the work over again, with, if possible, still 
greater care, so that he might the more confidently affirm the truth of 
his contentions. 
The following is the general description of the bed bug given by 
Messrs Douglas and Scott in their work The British Hemijitera, vol. i. 
Acanthia Fabricius. 
“ Flat, broad, ovate. 
Head : broad, convex ; sides behind eyes straight. 
Face is long, broad, convex, triangular, the base of the triangle 
being in front projecting between the antennae ; antenniferous pro¬ 
cesses very stout and much deflected. Underside with a rostral channel. 
Antennae : 1st joint stout, not reaching to the end of the face ; 2nd 
joint four times as long but not so thick as the 1st, and very slightly 
thickened to the apex ; 3rd and 4th joints very thin filiform ; 3rd as 
long as 2nd ; 4th two-thirds as long as 3rd. 
Eyes : inserted at the front of the sides of the head, large, some¬ 
what flattened, prominent. 
Rostrum : the joints in length subequal ; 1st at the base enclosed 
by the labium and cheek plates ; 2nd broadest; 3rd thinnest, apex 
acute. 
Thorax: Pronotum subreniform ; much wider than long, anterior 
margin very concave, not raised into an annulus; side margins 
foliaceous more or less reflexed, rounded in front, projecting ; exterior 
angles rounded ; sides gradually narrower to the hinder angles which 
are obtuse, almost right angled; posterior margin straight; disc 
concave posteriorly depressed with a strong ridge within the hinder 
angles. 
Scutellum : broad, short, triangular, rather convex. 
Elytra: without clavus, cuneus, or membrane. Corium as wide 
but scarcely so long as the first segment of the abdomen; posterior 
margin slightly rounded. Wings wanting or rudimentary. 
Sternum : mesosternum in the centre between the coxae with a 
long flat trapeziform plate which hindwardly projects over the meta¬ 
sternum. 
