WATER-SCORPION WATER-BUG 



117 



office of air-pipe, a sort of makeshift trachea. It 

 serves its purpose well, however, since a water- 

 scorpion finds it far more convenient to rest con- 

 tentedly within a half-inch of the surface, enjoying 

 a dinner of its own catching, with the tip of its 

 breathing tube well out of the water, than to be 

 constantly running to the 

 surface to breathe, as do 

 many of its neighbors. 



The student of water in- 

 sects may consider himself 

 fortunate if he succeeds in 

 bagging a water -scorpion. 

 They often conceal them- 

 selves among such rubbish 

 as always collects in sluggish 

 streams. An inexperienced 

 collector may be surprised 

 to see what he took for a 

 dirty stick awkwardly gather 

 itself together and walk out 

 of the net. Though not un- 

 common, they are still con- 

 sidered prizes. An aquarium 

 stocked with water plants 

 seems as well adapted to the needs of these crea- 

 tures as are their native streams. Being by disposi- 

 tion inclined to peace, they are slow to resist the 

 attacks of the more warlike inhabitants of the water. 

 Their armor protects them from many enemies and 

 only the most relentless hunters can pierce their coat 

 of mail. I was once fortunate enough to watch a 



WATER-SCORPION AT LEISURE 



