405 



WATER BUGS. 



I. WATER-STRIDERS OR WATER-SKATERS. 



FAMILY HYDROMETRIDJE. 



(Plate 53, Fig. 3.) 



It is very interesting to watch these water- 

 skaters skimming over the surface of the water. 

 They have usually exceedingly long, slender legs 

 and a rather lens-sliaped body. They are difficuli 

 to catch, for they have keen sight and are so active 

 that they are almost at the other side of a pool 

 before one can get near them. We saw dozens of 

 these merry skaters at the bottom of a gully at 

 Heathcote, after heavy rains. The stream was 

 rushing along, but in little sheltered turns in the 

 bank many of these water-skaters had collected. 

 They feed on small insects, etc. The eggs are laid 

 in jelly-like globules attached to water-plants 

 In colder climates they winter in the water and oh 

 banks, and do not come to the surfiice till spring. 



Hydrometra and Gerris are the common species. 



II. BACK-SWIMMERS. 

 FAMILY NOTONECTIDiE. 



. (Plate 53, Fig. 5.) 



These are interesting little water bugs which 

 remind one of rowing-boats, for they swim on their 

 backs or they may float with the hind legs ex- 

 tended and now and then moving tliem gently like 

 a pair of oars; these legs are much longer than the 

 other pairs. (Plate 53, Fig. 5.) The back of the 



