172 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



little creature, if it can be found, and though not 

 as common as the last, it may yet be detected, in 

 summer, by the edge of ponds, &c., has truly ele- 

 gant habits. The great Swammerdam, who first 

 described it, was lost in admiration at it. The 

 extremity of its body is furnished with a coronet 

 of about thirty elegantly feathered 

 hairs. These are under the control 

 of the insect, and are capable of 

 being folded up, so as to enclose a 

 minute bubble of air. When the 

 larva is weary of remaining at the 

 top of the water, and wishes to dive 

 to the still and cool depths below, it 

 causes these hairs so to fold up and 

 close upon each other as to include 

 the air-bubble, so that it cannot 

 escape. Thus furnished with a 



ward, and thus breathes under water until the 

 purity of the captive air-bubble is impaired, when 

 it returns to the surface to repeat the same 

 operations. The appearance of the little bubble 

 shining, with a brilliant silvery lustre under the 

 water, is very pleasing, and accounts for the 



