Ranidae 





approaches an inoffensive-looking brown stem, only to find it a 

 house from which the owner ^ rushes with legs that grasp tightly 



and jaws 

 W ^/^ ^^^ . that bite. 



The curi- 

 -— — ous back- 

 swimmer^ 

 pounces upon 

 them and sucks 

 their blood. 

 There is small 

 chance of es- 

 cape from the 

 jaws of the div- 

 ing-beetle, ^ or 

 from the suck- 

 ing beak of the 

 giant water- 

 bug.* The un- 

 dulating leech 

 water-tiger ' ggts a deadly 



hold upon them while they rest. They are eaten by fish and 

 turtles, by water-birds, and by their own kin. 



What are apparently green stems come to life and send out powerful arms to 

 capture the tadpoles. 



» Caddis-worm, larva of a caddis-fly (Phryganeida;) . ^Notonecta. ' Dytiscus. * Belostoma. 



183 



