164 MR HARDY ON TH£ HABITS OF HELOBIA BR£VICOLLIS. 



insects ; while the real depredators, as is their wont, fled in all 

 directions. The Amara could scarcely he hlamed, and probably 

 only awaited the fragments. While thus mutually destructive, 

 they, in their turn, become the prey of Triton palustrisy which, 

 in winter, makes an occasional meal of them. 



In examining the outskirts of a damp moss, I was somewhat 

 surprised, in turning up a stone, below which a quantity of water 

 had lodged, to find one of these insects take refuge in the 

 water, and strive to hide itself among the withered grass at the 

 bottom. When it came to the surface, being still watched, it 

 had again recourse to the water ; under which, nowise discom- 

 moded, it walked up and down like a water-beetle. It was fully 

 five minutes before it re-emerged. Afterwards I discovered that 

 it was likewise an excellent swimmer ; able, without exhaustion, 

 to remain a full quarter of an hour in water ; and when offered 

 some pieces of paper to rest on, using them for a little, and 

 then again committing itself fearlessly to the water. 



While the Helobise are thus enabled to accommodate themselves 

 to the varying hygrometric condition of their abode, a too pro- 

 fuse moisture is not always agreeable. In the present rainy sea- 

 son, although numerous individuals remain in the spongiest 

 places, yet the most numerous bands, consisting of some dozens, 

 are up on the surrounding heaths. These companies, however, 

 are of inconsiderable amount compared with those on the bor- 

 ders of some ditches liable to be overflowed. Upon turning up 

 some stones here, under which some old mole runs lay concealed, 

 nearly the entire surface of the excavation was seen blackened 

 and crowded with these insects, which I could not compare to 

 anything else than a shoal of tadpoles in spring. Most of them 

 were holding on by the fore-legs ; a restless individual removing, 

 now and then, to a place of security, which was considered to 

 be gained when it had thrust its head into the midst of the 

 crowd. 



The Helobia is rarely infested with the A earns ; I have ob- 

 served only one instanccr 



