HABITS OF THE WATER-EOATMAN. 583 



of the thorax, and ascends in bubbles to the surface. There is 

 always a small bubble of air at that point, which continually 

 increases in size until it is detached from the insect, rises to 

 the surface, and gives way to another. 



The wings of these insects are large and powerful, and can 

 carry their owner at a considerable speed. The insect is even 

 able to take to flight directly from the surface of the water, 

 an accomplishment which startled me in no small degree when 

 I first saw it. When it wishes to fly, it dives to some little 

 distance below the surface, so as to bring itself into a per- 

 pendicular position, with its head upwards. It then darts 

 upwards, giving a smart stroke with both its swimming legs 

 as it reaches the surface. By this stroke, or leap, it is jerked 

 several inches out of the water, when it spreads its wings 

 suddenly, and with a loud, dull humming sound, much like 

 that of a wasp on the wing, flies away. 



In common with the rest of its kin, this is a predacious 

 insect, feeding almost entirely upon other aquatic insects. It 

 does not eat them, but seizes them with its fore-legs, clasps 

 them tightly to its body, drives its beak deeply into them, and 

 sucks out their juices, leaving their bodies scarcely altered 

 in form. I have often watched the Notonecta seize other 

 inhabitants of the water, and thus kill them. When it has 

 once clasped an insect in its fatal hold, it can scarcely be 

 induced to release it until it has finished its meal, but swims 

 about, holding its victim firmly pressed against its body until 

 all its juices are sucked out. 



It pays a great regard to its personal cleanliness, and is 

 fond of washing itself much after the fashion of the house- 

 fly, using its fore-legs for this purpose, and passing them over 

 every part of its body, the head being moved and twisted 

 from side to side exactly like that of the blue-bottle under 

 similar circumstances. 



The larva and pupa of the Water-boatman resemble the 

 perfect insect in habits as well as in form, excepting that the 

 former has not even a vestige of wings, and the latter only 

 exhibits them in their rudimentary form ; consequently they 

 are unable to fly, and their whole life is passed in the water. 



The proboscis or beak, which is employed by the Water- 

 boatman in draining its victims of their juices, is very strong 



