THE MERRY-GO-ROUND 123 



size or a water-tiger. Back-swimmers and water- 

 boatmen, damsel-fly nymphs and diving beetles had 

 been collected before, and hardly caused a ripple 

 of excitement. 



Among the water plants I pulled in for inspec- 

 tion was a leaf on which I found a small purse- 

 shaped case. I handed it over to the Professor. 

 "Ah," said he, ''that's a nice thing; the egg-case 

 of hydrophilus." I was glad to have found a "nice 

 thing," though I hadn't meant to do it. 



"What are these thin, half-starved looking creat- 

 ures creeping over the tops of these plants?" asked 

 the Frivolous One. "Why, they've hardly the 

 strength to set one foot before another. See!" said 

 she, picking up something in her slender fingers 

 and holding it toward the Professor. Then, with 

 a side glance at me, she said, "It has that thread-like 

 effect!" "Oh!" said the Professor. "This is the 

 prize of the day. See, people, here's a marsh- 

 treader. You'd better try to get some specimens 

 for your collections." 



The Frivolous One caught several more marsh- 

 treaders and was not at all haughty about having 

 found "the prize." And I couldn't help knowing 

 that she had about as much in her pail as the 

 more serious ones had, and she had her good time 

 besides. The Professor never made the mistake 

 of tiring the field class. He didn't stay too long. 

 We left the Lagoon before the mist began to gather 

 and so escaped the malaria. It was a day to be 

 remembered, and we all agreed that it was better 

 than many merry-go-rounds. 



