i66 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



with two faces one to look down into the water, and the other 

 to look into the sky." 



"What a lot you have learnt about insects, Dick, in the 

 course of a few months," said Frank. 



" It is a grand study," said Dick enthusiastically : " and I have 

 worked my best at it. When one goes hard at a thing it is 



METAMORPHOSES OF FLESH-FLY. 



astonishing how soon one picks up a lot of knowledge about 

 it. I have read over and over again about the common insects, 

 or those that are the most noticeable." 



" Well, tell us about all those insects we see now." 

 " Look at those long-legged narrow-bodied flies which 

 are sliding along over the surface. These are called water- 

 measurers. That oval beetle which is swimming on its back, and 



WATER-BEETLE. 



using two legs like oars, is the water boatman. It fastens on to 

 the head of small fish, and soon kills them. It lives in the water, 

 but if put on land it can fly. Look at that brute crawling over 

 the mud, with its lobster-like head. It has sharp claws and a 

 hollow snout. It lies in wait for its victims, and when it seizes 

 them it sucks the juice out of them with its beak. It looks 

 only of a dull brown now, but when its wings are expanded its 



