THE WATER CABINET, 139 
them from the water (Kirby), The anterior legs are long, 
and formed for walking or to act as instruments of pre- 
hension; the four hinder ones are very short, and ciliated 
externally, bearing a strong resemblance to the paddle of 
anoar. “The head is sunk in the thorax as far as the 
eyes, and the latter are divided by a process from the 
anterior part of the head, in such a manner that there 
appear to be two eyes above and two below—a mode of 
structure admirably adapted to the wants of the insect, 
which requires at the same time to observe objects both 
in the air and water.” The hinder legs are capable of a 
free oar-like action, which render this gyrinus the most 
expert of swimmers, and the circular movements are 
accomplished by the more rapid action of the oars on one 
side than on the other. So equipped, the whirlwig leads a 
merry life ; he skates away from morning to night, never 
in fear of being drowned, and seemingly never tired. 
CHAPTER VI. 
HETEROPTERA, 
In the Cuvierian arrangement the land and water bugs 
stand between the true beetles and butterflies, and in those 
members of the order which possess wings, the chief cha- 
racteristic is, that the anterior pair fold nearly horizon- 
tally, partly lapping over each other, and are of a leathery 
texture at the base, The majority of the members of the 
order are inhabitants of tropical climates, and some of 
them display colours equal to those of the true beetles, 
Not a few have the power of emitting powerful odours, in 
