WATER BEETLES 35 



much, the same unpleasant way, jerking out a 

 milky fluid (which has a scent that reminds one 

 of Cockroaches) from nearly all its joints 

 directly it is seized. 



CHAPTER V 



WATER BEETLES GREAT AND SMALL 



IN many a weed-grown shallow pool we 

 may find the " Great Water-beetle." He is a 

 splendid fellow, dressed in a dark olive-green 

 coat, marked with faint lines and dots, and is 

 not far short of two inches long nearly as 

 big as the Stag beetle, which is the largest 

 beetle we have in England. 



Although he is much the larger of the two, 

 the Great Water-beetle is no match for the 

 Tyrant of the pool, who often attacks and 

 kills his great neighbour. For in spite of his 

 great size the Great Water-beetle is a peaceful 

 and rather slow-going creature, with very 

 little power of defending himself against the 

 onslaught of the savage monsters of the pool. 

 He swims slowly along in a jerky way through 

 the water, for his legs are not particularly 



