50 RAMBLES OF 



I to relate all my rambles undertaken with a view 

 to gain a proper acquaintance with this creature, at 

 all hours of the day, and late in the evening, before 

 day-light, etc. etc. 



Among other objects which served as an unfailing 

 source of amusement, when resting from the fatigue 

 of my walks, was the little inhabitant of the brook 

 which is spoken of in the extract made from the 

 "Journal of a Naturalist," in last week's Friend. 

 These merry swimmers occupied every little sunny 

 pool in the stream, apparently altogether engaged in 

 sport. A circumstance (not adverted to in that ex- 

 tract) connected with these insects, gives them addi- 

 tional interest to a close observer they are allied 

 by their structure and nature to those nauseous ver- 

 min, the cimices, or bed-bugs ; all of which, whether 

 found infesting fruits or our dormitories, are distin- 

 guished by their disgusting odour. But their dis- 

 tant relatives, called by the boys the water-witches 

 and apple-smellers, the gyrinus natator above alluded 

 to, has a delightful smell, exactly similar to that of 

 the richest, mellowest apple. This peculiarly plea- 

 sant smell frequently causes the idler many unavail- 

 ing efforts to secure some of these creatures, whose 

 activity in water renders their pursuit very difficult, 

 though by no means so much so as that of some of 

 the long-legged water-spiders, which walk the waters 

 dry-shod, and evade the grasp with surprising ease 

 and celerity. What purposes either of these races 

 serve in the great economy of nature, has not yet 

 been ascertained, and will scarcely be determined 



