407 



lation in order to renew the air. The film of ale 

 romid the bug makes it glisten like silver-plate. 



The eggs are laid on water-plants, and in 

 America, in certain parts, these bugs are so 

 numerous as to be collected and sent to England 

 as bird food. The common genus is Cori.va. 



WATER SCORPIONS. FAMILY NEPIDJE. 

 (Plate 53.) 



One species, Nepa (Plate 53, Fig. 2), has a broad, 

 flattened head and body. At the end of the latter 

 are two long, slender bristles, grooved on the inner 

 side; or, putting the bristles together, a tube is 

 formed, and these insects can lie on the mud of 

 shallow pools and project the tube to obtain air in 

 order to breathe. The body of this insect some- 

 what resembles a scorpion. 



Tlie front legs are fitted for seizing and liolding 

 prey, and the beak is fitted for piercing the body 

 of insects, for it is short and strong and curved 

 under the thorax. Nearly all the carnivorous types 

 have this relatively short strong proboscis. 



In this group is a curious insect, Ranatra (Plate 

 53, Fig. 1), which resembles a mantis or a phasmid. 

 It has a long, stick-like body and long, slender legs. 

 The front pair of legs is shorter than the others, 

 and is fitted for seizing prey; they are very 

 strong. The colour of these insects blends with 

 tlieir surroundings, and they are thus more easily 

 able to get their prey, as they lie in the mud on the 

 bottom of shallow pools. 



