146 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 
half as long as the abdomen ; and with the front legs more 
or less flattened, fitted for digging (Fig. 179). 
The species are generally black or very dark 
brown. They are found burrowing in sandy places, 
or on the surface of the ground beneath sticks and 
vl Cyrtome- stones, or at the roots of grass and other herbage. 
rabiiis. The family is not a large one. T.he members of it 
probably feed upon plants ; but it is desirable that further 
observation be made upon the habits of this family. 
Family CORIMEL^NID^E (Cor-i-me-laen'i-dae). 
The Negro-bugs. 
These bugs are mostly black, and are beetle-like in 
appearance; some have a bluish or greenish tinge, and all 
are very convex. The scutellum is very convex, and, as in 
the following family, covers nearly the whole of the abdo¬ 
men. But in this family there is at the base of 
the scutellum on each side a short furrow into 
which the edge of the wing-cover fits when at 
rest. All of our species belong to the genus 
Corimelcena (Cor-i-me-lce'na). 
Y meilnTatra. These insects infest various plants, and often 
injure raspberries and other fruit by imparting a disagreeable 
odor to them. Fig. 180 represents one of these bugs, some¬ 
what enlarged. 
Family SCUTELLERID.E (Scu-tel-ler'i-dae). 
The Shield-backed Bugs. 
The members of this family resemble the 
negro-bugs in the shape and size of the 
scutellum, which covers nearly the whole of 
the abdomen ; but the sides of the scutellum 
are not furnished with a groove for receiving 
the edge of the wing-covers. Fig. 181 repre¬ 
sents one of these insects enlarged. They 
feed upon plants. 
Fig. 181.— Euryga* 
ter alternate. 
