228 NATURAL HISTORY OF BHOMPSTON POND. 



beetle with eye spots on the elytra and violet-coloured 

 tibiae. 



There are insects flying above the pond in great variety and 

 countless numbers, far beyond the writer's powers of dis- 

 crimination. Early in July there were a few specimens of 

 Cloeon (fig. 58), which differs from Ephemera in having only 

 two wings and two abdominal setae. Though the preparatory- 

 stages occupy two years, the imago only lives about a single 

 day, which explains to some extent the vestigial condition of 

 the mouth parts. The glistening wings are divided into 

 tiny meshes by minute brownish veins. 



Dragon-flies (Paraneuroptera) e.g. Libellula depressa 

 (fig. 59), are to be seen swiftly flying through the air or hover- 

 ing over the water, where these most rapacious insects hunt 

 their prey. The four powerful wings, almost equal in size, are 

 divided into very small areas by numerous slender black 

 veins, with a reddish patch at the base. The head is very 

 movable and bears two large compound eyes and short 

 antennae ; the six slender legs are set far forwards on the 

 thorax. The abdomen is rather large and flat, and yellowish 

 with darker markings, and is glaucous in the case of the male. 



Culex (Gnat) (fig. 74) is another interesting insect found 

 hovering above the water, particularly in the evening. There 

 is some satisfaction in knowing that only the female is guilty 

 of the well-known blood sucking habit, for the male, which is 

 distinguished by its plumose antennae, feeds on nectar. The 

 gnathites are modified for piercing and sucking. The fused 

 second maxillae form the proboscis, which, when covered by 

 the labrum, forms the sheath and acts as a guide to the 

 contained styles, i.e., the two mandibles, two first maxillae 

 and hypopharynx. 



Passing now to the higher animals, the moorhen (Gallinula 

 chloropus) seems to be the only other aquatic vertebrate 

 constantly present. These birds habitually build here, 

 constructing a nest, chiefly composed of the leaves of the Great 

 Water-Plantain (Alisma Plantago-aquatica), in which the 

 young are reared. 



