Animals of the Mississijjpi Bottoms near Quincij. 167 



The eggs are placed by the female in a silken case, sometimes 

 attached to leaves or sticks which keep it at the surface, in 

 other cases carried about by the beetle. A single case may 

 enclose a hundred or more eggs. After hatching, the young 

 larv;e remain for some time in the case, where they are pro- 

 tected from their enemies and insured a supply of air by being 

 kept at the surface. A European species, very similar to our 

 large black Hydrophilus, becomes fully grown as a larva in one 

 hundred days, and leaves the water to burrow in the earth 

 for pupation. The beetles hibernate in the mud and under 

 rubbish. 



Hijdrochus squamiger^ Lee. 



(LeConte, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., vii, 359, 1855.) 

 Found in Willow Slough August 15. Not common. 



Hifdrophilus nimbafiis, Say. 



(Say, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 203, 1823; Compl. Writ., 

 ii, 130.) 



This species is evidently a scavenger. The digestive tube 

 is long and coiled like that of a tadpole. It is commonly filled 

 with a brown matter, largely granular and unrecoguizable, 

 among which are numerous diatoms, desmids, and fragments of 

 filamentous algge. 



Moderately common in Willow Slough and Cedar Creek. 



Berosus pantherinus, Lee. 



(LeConte, Proc, Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., vii, 364, 1855; Horn, 

 Proc. Am. Philos. Soc, 1873, 122.) 



A common and widely distributed species. The long in- 

 testine is filled with matter like that found in llijdrophiliis 

 nimbatus, — probably largely decaying vegetable matter. Mixed 

 with the granular matter are many diatoms and bits of fila- 

 mentous algte. 



Localities: Harkness Slough, Willow Slough, Cedar Creek, 

 Long Lake, Wood Slough. 



Berosus striatus, Say. 



{Hi/droj)hilus striatus, Say, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., N. 

 Ser., V, 188, 1825; Compl. Writ., ii, 292.) 



