SOME ODD INSECTS 25 



many an enemy is on the watch, to snap up 

 small and helpless creatures, while below lurk 

 terrible monsters ready to clutch and devour 

 them directly they venture beneath the 

 surface. At the bottom of the pool, prowling 

 slowly about in search of prey, is the Water- 

 scorpion. An ugly-looking creature, broad 

 and flat, and a dull ashy-brown colour. It 

 appears to have only two pairs of legs, as it 

 holds up its front pair as a crab does its great 

 claws, ready to seize 

 any unfortunate little 

 animal that comes 

 within its reach. 

 These curious legs can 

 be folded in two like 

 a clasp - knife, and 

 when once they close 

 on a victim they never 

 let go until the poor 

 thing has been sucked 

 dry by the Scorpion's 

 cruel beak. 



This ferocious insect is about an inch long. 

 It is a dingy-red colour, but its back is covered 

 by dull ashy-brown wing-cases ; so you cannot 

 see that it is red unless it turns on its back, 



