292 



Bugs, Butterflies, and Beetles 



sting, but this is not so with me — I have tried them 

 both. The back-swimmer's sting only lasts for an 

 instant and it then is over, but a bee sting hurts 

 and it hurts real good and strong and lasts some 

 time. I never have had the bite of a water Boat- 

 man swell up and become inflamed, but a bee, a 



Enlarged view, 



yellow- jacket, a hornet or a wasp will raise a great 

 welt on my skin and pain me enough to make me 

 cry if I were not a big man and ashamed to do so 

 childish a thing. But be careful with all water- 

 bugs, as some of them can sting viciously. 



There are about twelve species of back-swim- 

 mers to be found in the United States and there 

 is no good historj^ of the life of one yet written. 

 So here is a chance for my readers to distinguish 

 themselves. 



