88 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 



rest on a water-plant, the head with its fearful apparatus, formed of 

 a strong pincher with two pairs of adjuncts, which can be moved in 

 any direction, is placed in such a deceiving position as to almost 

 always lure an unsuspecting little fish, tad-pole or insect, within its 

 reach. 



As the grub gets larger, it turns darker in color, until having attained 

 a size of about four inches in length, it has become nearly black 

 on the back; the under part is then of a creamy white, and the sides 

 have been fringed with hair. In this state its appearance is extremely 

 repulsive, being about as ugly as anything can be imagined. The 

 earliest and best time to destroy them is when the cocoon has been 

 finished, and the female is standing guard in the water beneath, both 

 can then be captured and obliterated, in this way great damage is 

 prevented before there has been an opportunity for development; 

 very much on the principle of the old proverb: "A stitch in time 

 saves nine. " 



The grubs breathe through the posterior part of the body, and 

 have to come to the surface occasionally for that purpose, at which 

 time they are easily caught with a dip-net. . 



In general appearance, the color excepted, the grub of the black 

 water-beetle resembles that of the preceding. 



The beetle, moreover, is very prolific, spinning several cocoons 

 at two different periods, namely, in the spring and high summer. 



Other varieties of this insect exist, the one under discussion being 

 the most dangerous to the fish. So far as the others are concerned, 

 it is sufficient to remember the injunction, allow nothing alive to 

 remain in the company of the fish when newly hatched. 



THE DRAGON FLIES. 



The dragon flies (commonly known as snake-feeders) may be 

 divided into three classes, all very destructive enemies of the fish. 



