i3o IRambles wttb IRature Students 



other water insects, and has a peculiarly repulsive 

 aspect, with its pair of curved cruel-looking jaws 

 and flat snake-like head. When I tease it with a 

 piece of twig it flies at it, and will defend itself when 

 attacked with a dogged sort of courage. It always 

 seems to me like a shark amongst the milder 

 inhabitants of the pond. 



I must not be tempted further to describe what 

 our net brings to light. If we place our captures 

 in a globe of water, and then read about them in 

 some handbook to natural history, we shall not fail 

 to learn many interesting facts about the curious 

 habits of the creatures inhabiting our ponds and 

 ditches. 



