Freshwater Life in North-East Greenland. 329 



of both sexes (the females with egg-sacs in September). In colour they 

 are transparent-reddish brown (the colour is collected into small, 

 round bodies inside the carapace), which is an excellent protection 

 for them. I have lain for a long time gazing down into the water, and 

 it was only after the powers of observation had become considerably 

 shar})ened, that I was able to distinguish the animals from the sur- 

 roundings (mud, stones etc.) and that only when they moved them- 

 selves with the characteristic hop. Taking up some of the bottom 

 material in a dredge, we find in it the large red larvae of midges 

 {Chironomiis sp.) in the mud tubes in which they pass the winter. 

 Whether Cyclops hibernates, I do not know; in the autumn we find 

 it in dilîerent sizes (^^/y 07), in the spring I have not found it at 

 all before the beginning of July (1907 and 08) and they are then 

 all quite small (young). 



In the shallower waters (0 — 1 meter) we meet with a much 

 richer animal life, especially by the banks with vegetation. Cijclops 

 is also common here as also the Chironomiis larvae, but in addition 

 we find numerous other midge larvae (Culex, Tanijpiis etc.), which 

 crawl or twist about actively in the water. We can see the red 

 worms (Tiibifex?) in millions in their mud tubes, swinging here and 

 there in the slight current or withdrawing themselves suddenly and 

 then shortly afterwards protruding again. The pale fly larvae 

 are also seen here and there — all a rich booty for the red mites, 

 which are wandering about seeking their prey in amongst the leaves 

 of vegetation at the bottom, like the men of the primeval forests. 

 Chasing them, they hide under stones, among the moss and the like, 

 which conceal their colour (the round body brick-red, the legs (with 

 slightly developed swimming hairs) and the eyes purple-red). That 

 these water-mites (Lebertia fabricii, Kr.) are just as much bottom 

 animals as free-swimming, is shown apart from the legs also by the 

 fact, that when I put them in a glass with water they sank fairly 

 quickly down to the bottom, even whilst endeavouring to delay 

 their progress by turning round with their legs in the water, without 

 being able however to get up again; when they reached the bottom, 

 they at once throw themselves upon the midge larvae present, taking 

 fast hold at one place or another on the body of the prey in spite 

 of the unfortunate animal's frantic etrorts to get free. This struggle 

 was seen most distinctly in the case of the large, red Chirononuis 

 larvae; the red colour of the latter first disappeared at the place 

 where the Arachnid had fixed itself, and then gradually faded also 

 from the rest of the animal, whose movements became weaker and 

 weaker, until at last only a flabby, whitish worm remained and the 

 Arachnid left it to seek for new booty. These Arachnids probably 



