THE WATER-BUG. 303 



has the peculiarity of always swimming on its back, using 

 as oars its hinder legs, which have a 

 very powerful propelling power. It 

 is about half an inch in length, 

 generally of a greenish tinge, but 

 varies much in colour, some being 

 quite black. It very seldom flies, 

 but it can do so, and very well. 

 When diving it carries down a glob- 

 ule of air, for the purpose of respira- 

 tion, in a hollow between the folded THE WATER-BOATMAN. 

 wings. One of this family (Corixd) is, however, often 

 found in the stomachs of trout and grayling ; but this 

 differs somewhat in its mode of progression, as it does not 

 swim on its back. 



In the still eddies of streams, as well as on quiet pools 

 and slow-running rivers and mill-heads, we constantly see 

 that long-legged, brownish-looking, stick-like insect, the 

 WATER- BUG (Ranatra linearis ; order, Hemiptera). 



It seems to glide or skate, as it were, along the surface, 

 and after three or four long slides 

 comes to a full stop. It has two pairs 

 of wings and three pairs of long legs. 



In Gilbert White's time it was sup- 

 posed that this species was viviparous, 

 and he gives a curious account of the 

 mode of propagation ; but the eggs 

 have long been known to entymolo- 

 gists, and are deposited, or rather in- 

 serted, into the stems of aquatic plants, 

 usually the club-rush, in which it is 

 so deeply embedded by the long ovipositor of the insect 

 as to be entirely hidden, the bristles alone projecting. 

 These bristles, by preventing the edges of the plant stem 

 from uniting, secure an exit for the larva when hatched. 

 The females of this insect are much larger than the 

 males. 



Many of us, no doubt, have come across that curious, 

 black-looking insect, the DEVIL'S COACH-HORSE or COCK- 



