294 Bugs, Butterflies, and Beetles 



water-bug known as the Ran'a-tra. He is a long 

 slim fellow with long legs and long horny append- 

 ages at the hind end which it can put together, 

 making an air tube. Both of these water scorpions 

 can shut up the front part of their front legs into 

 the next joint like the blade of a knife into a knife 

 handle (Fig. 275). The Ranatra, one may see at 

 a glance, is also a predaceous insect; 

 those front legs or arms are evidently 

 made for grabbing and holding other 

 creatures (Fig. 276). 



The writer does not know much 

 about the personal habits of the 

 Ranatra, and he very much doubts 

 if any other writer has made much of 

 a study of it. The Ranatra does not 

 go skipping about and attracting attention like the 

 Boatmen and the back-swimmers ; he looks too much 

 like a stick to be seen, unless one is looking espe- 

 cially for him. 



THE GIANT WATER-BUG 



These are the big fellows that people call elec- 

 tric-light bugs because they sometimes fly about 

 the electric lights at night. They are the ones that 



