Pond Life 
In the insect world there are also, 
among others, the water-boatman, which, 
turned upside-down on its back, is very 
much like a boat, and to complete the 
resemblance it rows itself along with one 
pair of its legs, which are jointed and 
exactly resemble oars; the water- 
scorpion, which has a long and hollow 
tail, through which it can breathe as it 
hangs head-downwards, sticking the end 
of the tube through the water to the 
surface; and the water-spider, which 
carries its supply of air in the form of 
silvery bubbles, and stores them at the 
bottom in a silken tent. The whirligig 
beetles play about on the surface, turning 
themselves into living tee-to-tums as 
they revolve round and round in circles. 
The water-cricket is the long thin insect 
which runs about so nimbly on the top 
L 145 
