120 



COLEOPTERA. 



The young of these water beetles are as active and fero- 

 cious as the adult insects, although widely ditferino- in 

 point of form. These larvae, not inappropriately distin- 

 guished by the name of " water tigers, have some resem- 



r^^r^-^^ -^^c 



Fig. 80.— LA uv A of i>yticus. 



blance to a scolopendra, being comj)osed of a succession 

 of scaly rings, and they are, moreover, furnished with six 

 strong and well-jointed legs, by means of which they run 

 about with considerable rapidity. Tlie head, which is 

 attached to the body by a flexible neck, is broad, and 

 composed of strong horny plates, adapted to support the 

 formidable jaws, which are powerful hooked fangs, moving 

 laterall}^, and so sharp that woe betide the unfortunate 

 creatui-e upon which they lay hold. Thus armed, these 

 butchers live ujion other aquatic animals, upon which they 

 rush with all the vivacity of a shark or pike, not sparing 

 even individuals of their own sj)ecies. After having 

 several times cast their skin, these larvae prepare to 

 assume their pupa state ; for that pur230se, they creej) out 

 of the water, and bury themselves in the moist earth, in 

 the vicinity of their native j^ond, each scooping out for 

 itself an oval cavity wherein to pass the assigned time of 

 helplessness and inactivity. (Fig. 80, 6.) 



