178
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Of the huge family of Capsidae (Leaf-bugs), of which more than
1,000 Palaearctic species have been listed, we have in Britain 175;
these are mainly vegetarian in diet, but some few carnivorous
species are known, and about six are "myrmecophilous" i.e.,
they consort with ants, possibly with not-entirely-innocent
intent. Essex can boast the very respectable total of 118, of
which 61 have been found in Epping Forest.
The truly-water-dwelling bugs, comprising the section
Cryptocerata—the Water-boatmen and Water-scorpions, and
the Giant Bugs (Belostomidae) of the tropics—are represented by
39 species in Britain, 27 of which have been found in Essex,
and Epping Forest claims 21 of these.
The Water-scorpions (Nepa and Ranatra) are rather sluggish,
Nepa generally creeping about on the bottom of the pond or
skulking in the mud on the look-out for prey; and both species
swim slowly and gracefully through the water. The Water-
boatmen (Corixa, Notonecta and Plea), on the contrary, are much
more active, propelling themselves in a series of rapid jerks,
Notonecta almost invariably back downwards.
In conclusion, the pleasant duty of returning thanks for
benefits received remains. To Mr. E. A. Butler, M.A., F.E.S.—
our leading British authority on the Hemiptera-Hetero-
ptera—my most grateful thanks are due for very kindly
selecting specimens from his collection and arranging them,
for help in other ways, and especially for giving to the
entomological world his recently published book A Biology of the
British Hemiptera-Heteroptera, from which I have drawn largely
for this paper. To Dr. Hugh Scott, Entomological Curator to
Cambridge University, I am indebted for the kind loan of the
beautiful drawings displayed. These were originally prepared
by Mr. Butler some time ago, and presented to the University.
To Messrs. Witherby and Co. thanks are due for allowing me
to show Mr. Butler's original sketches for the coloured plates
of "nymphs" in his book, and I desire to thank very kindly
my friend, Mr. H. Goullee, for the loan of most of the lantern
slides.
A list of the Hemiptera-Heteroptera of Epping Forest, com-
piled from available records, is appended. The lion's share of
these has been very kindly contributed by Mr. Butler, and I
have incorporated my own records and the few that are given in