76 THE HYDRADEPHAGA. 



lighter than the water, and that he only keeps himself 

 below the surface by the rowing action of his powerful 

 limbs. Accordingly, when he finds it necessary to 

 breathe, he simply suspends the working of his pad- 

 dles, when his body gradually rises to the surface, but 

 as the fore part of it is thicker and heavier than the 

 rest, it naturally remains immersed in the water, 

 when his tail is exposed to the air. This is the very 

 arrangement he requires, for his respiration being 

 effected by allowing the air to flow in beneath the 

 elytra to the stigmata concealed under them, he has 

 nothing to do after rising to the surface but to 

 raise his elytra a little, take in his fresh cargo of air, 

 and then go off about his business. This consists 

 for the most part in the pursuit and slaughter of 

 all his weaker neighbours, which he seizes remorse- 

 lessly with his fore feet, and conveys to his mouth 

 with great relish. Anacreon has written one or two 

 odes on the supposed happiness of the Cicada, which, 

 if we may judge from the noise made by that insect, 

 must be very great indeed. However, on a careful 

 comparison of the circumstances of the two insects, I 

 canH help thinking that the balance of comfort at 

 any rate must be in favour of our friend the Water 

 Beetle. There he is this awfully hot day, when we, 

 who have walked out to look at him are in a most 

 miserable state of perspiration, — there he is enjoying 

 the luxury of a cool bath, with every necessary of his 

 his existence within easy reach, — his food to be had 

 without any more exertion than just what has been 

 recommended by the wisest men in all ages to make 

 it taste the sweeter, — a plunge down into the deep 

 water, snapping up a larva here, a small beetle there, 

 with a little crustacean or two between, or perhaps 



