WEE WATER FOLK 17 



Towards the end of summer the larva climbs 

 up the stem of a plant until it is above the 

 water, and there it spins itself a tiny grey 

 cocoon, but it is so well hidden amongst the 

 grasses that very few have ever seen it. It 

 sleeps soundly for a week or two, and then the 

 cocoon opens and out pops a perfect little 

 Whirligig beetle which slips into the water 

 and at once begins spinning round like a top. 



These little beetles like gently running 

 water best, but in almost every pool and 

 pond that is clean and clear we may find one 

 or two of these odd little Whirligigs. 



The Water-boatman, another quaint water 

 insect, prefers still water, and is not at all 

 particular about its being clean and pure, 

 indeed, if possible he always chooses a stagnant 

 pond or even a ditch in which to make his 

 home. 



The little Water-boatman is not much more 

 than half an inch long, and has the strange 

 habit of swimming upside down. His body 

 is just the shape of a boat, quite flat under- 

 neath and rounded like the keel of a boat on 

 the top ; so the boatman turns himself over on 

 his back, and using his long hind legs as oars, 

 he rows himself about with the greatest ease. 



