THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 139 



will ordinarily jump right in, thus avoiding touching them, which is apt to 

 damage these delicate little bugs. 



Great care must be taken in handling the Cryptocerates, because they 

 have sharp and powerful beaks, which they use with taste and discretion. 

 They produce an extremely painful and lasting impression. 



The Water-striders require different methods. These bugs walk or 

 glide over the water as if it were a sheet of ice ; the smaller ones frequent 

 floating water-lily leaves or the matted masses of duckweed, from which 

 they sail out into the clear water on predatory excursions. Others, again, 

 hide among the vegetation growing from the banks or among the stems 

 of rushes or grasses, where the Marsh-treaders also lie low. One form 

 loves the braiding ripples of streams, while others gather in multitudes on 

 the calm surfaces of lakes, not far from the shores. The winged forms of 

 all these should be diligently sought for and very carefully preserved. The 

 Gerridse in general afford much sport. They are wary and swift, and it is 

 necessary to approach them very cautiously and then scoop them up with 

 a sudden dash of the net, which should just brush the surface. The 

 smaller ones are more apt to hug the shore than the larger, and they can 

 be taken in a similar manner as they glide away. These may be headed 

 off with the net also. Trepobates, Metrobates and Rheumatobates frequent 

 the still waters of large ponds and lakes or the quiet parts of broad and 

 slow streams. Rhagovelia is found in the swift streaks in streams, or in the 

 eddies around rocks jutting into the air, zigzagging against the current. 

 All occur in schools, and being extremely shy and quick in motions, must 

 also be scooped up with a sudden dash. It should be borne in mind that 

 the absence of wings may cause them to be mistaken for nymphs. Mesu- 

 velia and the Microvelias are to be found running about on the muddy, 

 sloping banks of streams or still waters, or wandering over floating vege- 

 tation. I have found the best way to take ihem is to drive them to a clear 

 space and there scoop them up with a small hand net. Hydrometra also 

 frequents the shore vegetation of quiet, shallow ponds or marshes. These 

 last bugs may sometimes be found in the net after sweeping it through 

 rushes, but ordinarily they rush out from their shelters on being alarmed ; 

 and, being rather slow of motion, they are best taken up singly with the 

 fingers. 



Now, as to methods of preservation. As before stated, alcohol is 

 inadmissible as a killing medium, but there is nothing better for presei\';i- 



