RHYNCHOTA. 
191 
1, Tingis ciffinis (x 8); 2, Aradus corticalis (x 6); 
3, Cimex lectularius (much enlarged). 
also of four joints, which can be turned back to lie in a groove under the throat. 
The shape of the insect may be seen from the figure, as well as the two lobes lying at 
the sides of the scutellum, which are all it has in the w r ay of elytra. Closely-allied 
species are found in dovecots, and in the 
nests of martins and bats. The 
Reduviidce are predaceous bugs, in 
which the head, narrow'ed behind in the 
form of a neck, carries two ocelli in 
addition to the compound eyes. Their 
antennae are composed of four joints, 
though these are often subdivided in 
such a w T ay that the number may 
appear much greater. The rostrum is 
short and strong, and three-jointed; their legs are long, and have three-jointed 
tarsi; and the fore-legs often serve as prehensile organs, their tarsi being specially 
adapted for that purpose. Reduvius jiersonatus, the largest British species, is 
three-quarters of an inch long, of a 
black-brown colour, with red legs, 
which, as well as the prothorax and 
antennae, are somewhat hairy. 
The Scddidce, which, on account 
of their large projecting eyes, are 
sometimes known as Oculati, form 
with the next family a sort of tran¬ 
sitional group between the land-bugs 
and water-bugs. Tliev live in the 
neighbourhood of water, either by 
the seashore or along the sandy banks 
of inland waters; and not only run 
with great rapidity, but often advance 
with leaps and bounds, their long spiny hind-legs being well fitted for this mode 
of locomotion. One of the species of the typical genus Saida is represented in 
the illustration. The pond-skaters ( Hydrometridce ) have moderately long con¬ 
spicuous antennae, and present other points of structure showing 
that they are nearly related to the true land - bugs. In some 
species wings, and in others, elytra also, may be wanting. These 
insects may be seen walking or gliding about on the sunny surface 
of stagnant or slow - flowing waters; and those of one genus 
(Halobates ) are found on the surface of the sea, sometimes right 
out in mid-ocean. The true poncl-skaters ( Gerris ) move about 
very quickly on the surface of the w r ater, and use their fore-legs 
in seizing their prey. Limnobates stagnorum is a more sluggish 
insect, walking slowly on the surface of the water, or on the 
grassy banks; and is remarkable for its elongated slender body, 
whence its name of needle-bug or water-gnat. This species is figured on p. 192, 
together with Gerris paludum and the larva of Velia currens. 
Reduvius personatus and its larva (nat size). 
Saida elegantula 
(greatly enlarged). 
