WATER SCORPION. 295 



crocodile-like, within the mud or water-weeds,, a multitude of 

 fierce and frightful insects, some in a state of maturity, others 

 in progressive stages, live solely by destruction. One of these is 

 the Water-Scorpion.* Stretching out its long lobster-like fore- 

 arms, which are terminated each by a sharp claw, serving the 

 purpose of a hand, it seizes and holds fast its prey, which it 

 then pierces with its sharp beak or proboscis, a pointed hol- 

 low weapon, serving the further purpose of sucking the juices 

 of its struggling victim. So thoroughly savage is the nature 

 of this creature, that he would seem to destroy for destroying- 

 sake ; and it is related by Kirby that one of them, put into a 

 basin with several tadpoles, killed all, and ate none. 



The prevailing hue of this insect murderer is gloomy as his 

 trade ; his head, shoulders, limbs, and wing-cases, being of a 

 blackish-brown, hardly distinguishable from the mud in which 

 he loves to lurk ; but when his wings are expanded, they dis- 

 play (also in unison with his occupation) a blood-red body, 

 terminated by a forked tail. It is only in the gloom of evening 

 twilight that he creeps from his native element to hide within 

 the dark covert of the water-weeds, or thence rising, to cut 

 through the night air in search of some new abode. Notwith- 

 standing the capacity of its carnivorous maw, this creature is 

 remarkable for the excessive flatness of its body. 



All the aquatic cannibals above named are insects in the 

 last, or adult stage of their existence ; but the two very remark- 



* Nepa cinerea. 



