( ix ) 



the Nepean River, and quoted the following remarks of Leopold 

 Fischer (' Orthoptera Europsea,' p. 47): — " Certainly the faculty 

 of swimming is given to some Orthoptera, ex. gr., to certain 

 exotic species of Xya and Tettix, which are reported to inhabit 

 water. Tettix harpago, Serville, as recorded by Capt. Boys 

 occurring at waterfalls in Mhow, Malwa (East Indies)." For the 

 record of Capt. Boys' observations he refers to vol. iv. of the 

 'Transactions' of this Society; where at page 97 of the 'Pro- 

 ceedings ' we read that at a meeting held October 7th, 1844, an 

 extract from a letter to Prof. Westwood from Capt. Boys was read, 

 containing various observations on the habits of Indian insects. 

 The Journal goes on to say — " Capt. Boys describes the habits of 

 a species of Orthoptera belonging to Latreille's genus Tettix, 

 about an inch long, which readily takes to the water and dives 

 under it, remaining at the bottom attached to a stone for many 

 minutes together, the dilated foliaceous appendages of the hind 

 legs being well adapted for swimming — being the first instance 

 recorded of a natatorial orthopterous insect." Further on, at 

 page 106 of the ' Journal of Proceedings,' in the report of a 

 meeting held June 2nd, 1845, and referring to another letter 

 from Capt. Boys to Prof. Westwood, we read : — " A specimen was 

 forwarded with this communication of Acnjdium (Tettix, Latr.) 

 harpago, Serville, with the observation that the insect is a true 

 swimmer; the formation of its posterior legs might alone lead one 

 to make a shrewd guess of the fact. It is found abundantly near 

 the waterfalls at Mhow, in Malwa, frequenting the sedges on the 

 banks of the stream. He had often seen them swim under water 

 from one bank to the other, a distance of three or four yards ; 

 and they had several times tried his patience by remaining under 

 water, attached to a stone. He had constantly observed a small, 

 silver-like bubble of air on each side of the thorax, close under 

 the base of the lengthened scutellum, and not unfrequently a third 

 at its apex (as is seen at the caudal extremity of the Dytisci). 

 They swim with rapid strokes of both posterior legs thrown out 

 together, and at no small pace, turning as freely as a Gijrinus 

 when a capture is attempted. Occasionally they will walk steadily 

 down a reed some feet under water, and there appear to feed on 

 the small weed which is attached to it. The steps of the bathing- 

 ghat from which the water had receded, being covered with the 

 above-mentioned weed, were a fine field for them. Their masti- 



c 



