WEE WATER FOLK 19 



probably at once stick his beak into your 

 hand. 



Some people say that these funny little 

 insects make a queer little noise, which sounds 

 like " chew-chew-chew," by rubbing their 

 hands (or their front legs) together. I have 

 never heard this noise myself, but this may 

 possibly be because I have not happened to 

 be passing by when a little Water-boatman is 

 performing in this 

 way, and so many 

 insects are able to 

 make sounds of differ- 

 ent kinds that I have 

 no doubt this little 

 pond- dweller can say 

 " chew - chew - chew " 

 if he pleases. A big 

 Water-boatman living 

 in the shallow lakes of 

 Mexico is supposed to 



., I'll THE GREAT \VATER-BOATMAN. 



be even more highly 



accomplished than his small British cousin, 

 for it is said that he can play a tune on his 

 snout by beating on it with his two front legs, 

 just as if he were beating a drum ! 



