8 INSECT LIFE IN POND AND STREAM 



same quaint water folk as he did, moving 

 about in the ponds and streams to-day. 



For every winding river, every rippling 

 stream, and every silent pool is a complete 

 water-world, the home of many a strange or 

 interesting creature. We know, of course, 

 that all sorts of fishes live in fresh water, 

 from the lordly salmon and silver trout to 

 tiny minnows and sticklebacks ; water voles 

 make their home in the banks of the streams 

 and rivers, and the shy coot and moorhen 

 hide their nests amongst the rushes. 



But there are other water-folk besides the 

 fishes, the birds, and the water voles. If we 

 look down into the water we shall see all 

 sorts of curious little things swimming, diving, 

 and bobbing about, while down at the bottom 

 of the pond many queer-looking creatures 

 are moving, creeping over the stones and mud, 

 and climbing about the water weeds. 



There goes a strange-looking object, just 

 like a cigar fitted with tiny legs and a queer- 

 shaped head. There, a little bundle of bits 

 of leaves and odds and ends of stick and 

 straw, suddenly puts forth a round head and 

 six spidery legs and starts slowly marching 

 along. And there two sausage- shaped 



