( 117 ) VII. Synopsis of British Hemiptera-Heteroptera. By Edward Saunders, F.L.S. Part I. [Read 5th April, 1875.] The following pages have been prepared in order to give a short and concise monograph of our British Hemiptera-Heteroptera, and to show plainly, by means of analytical tables, the distinguishing characters of their genera and species. It may be thought that, Avhilst entomologists have such a book as Messrs. Douglas & Scott's " British Hemiptera," nothing further is needed ; but since its pub-lication many new species have been added and many corrections made ; and the analytical tables here employed will, I believe, supply a want much felt by those Avho have studied Messrs. Douglas & Scott's work. In order to form these tables I have borrowed freely from Fieber, Mulsant and other continental authors; and I must remark that the characters here employed are only meant to distinguish our British genera and species apart, and may not always suffice to distinguish them from their European allies ; but this book being meant for students of our British forms, I have thought it undesirable to use the more puzzling characters which are necessary to dis-tinguish the European genera and species, although such a course woidd perhaps have been the more scientific. I have much pleasure here in thanking those who have kindly helped me with the loan of specimens, &c., and especially Messrs. Douglas & Scott and Dr. Power, and also Dr. Puton, for the ready Avay in which they have helped me whenever I have applied for their valuable assistance. HEMIPTERA-HETEROPTERA. I. Antennte visible, legs not natatorial. . . . . . Oymnocerata. II. Antennre hidden, legs natatorial . . . . . . Crijptocerata. GYMNOCERATA. I. Elyti'a formed of several pieces joined together or reticulated Geodromica. II. Elytra formed of one piece . . . . . • . . Hydrodroviica. N.B. — This last division contains those species only that run or leap on the surface of the water. TRANS. ENT. SOC. 1875. — VA^T II. (SEPT.) K
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