32 INSECT LIFE IN POND AND STREAM 



short neck, so that he can twist it about in 

 all directions. This ugly grub is a perfect 

 terror to the more peaceful dwellers in the 

 pool, for his head is armed with a most formid- 

 able pair of jaws, long and curved and pointed 

 at the tips, and he is always ready to use them, 

 too, on any unfortunate creature he can catch 

 unawares. 



Nothing in the pool is safe from this cruel, 

 Brown beetle grub. He goes about killing and 

 devouring every small creature that comes in 

 his way. He clutches the water insects with 

 his hooked feet, and sucks their blood through 

 the tips of his hollow jaws ; he pulls the snails 

 from their shells ; drags the worms from the 

 mud ; and sticks his fangs into the pretty 

 little stickleback as they go merrily swimming 

 by. He is a quarrelsome fellow, too, and 

 should he meet with one of his own relations 

 he at once begins a fight, and the two ugly 

 grubs struggle and roll about together, biting 

 and tearing each other with their jaws until 

 one is killed ; and then the victor calmly eats 

 his conquered opponent ! 



Sometimes this beetle grub swims lazily 

 about in the water, rowing itself slowly along 

 with its six little fringed legs, but all the while 



