424 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



filaments proceeding from the extremity of the abdo- 

 men, and the fore-legs adapted for seizing its prey. 

 It is a darker coloured insect than the Notonecta, and 

 less active in its movements through the water, a 

 natural consequence of the different structure of its 

 legs, which are not formed for swimming. Two other 

 insects of the same family and of similar habits are 

 also found here, the Naucoris Cimicoides and the Ran- 

 atra linearis, the latter, as may be .inferred from its 

 specific name, having a comparatively long and narrow 

 body. 



In our progress from the aquatic division of the 

 insects of this order to that of the terrestrial bugs", 

 we notice a very remarkable family of few species, 

 belonging, curiously enough, to neither. It may be 

 truly said of them, that, like the nondescript of the 

 travelling menagerie, " they can't live in the water, 

 and they die out of it." Many of these singular 

 insects may be seen in calm weather on the surface 

 of any stagnant pool in the parish, indeed they are 

 such conspicuous objects, that they are widely and 

 popularly known as Water Spiders, although the 

 true Water Spider (Argyronetra aquatica) is a totally 

 different creature both in its form and its economy. 

 The species alluded to is the Gerris Paludum, the 

 body of which is long and narrow, and so effectually 

 defended underneath from the action of the water 

 by a coating of fine silky pile, that even if the insect 

 be purposely immersed when captured, it will be 

 found, on examination, to be perfectly dry. Its fore- 

 legs are comparatively short, and although they are 

 not raptorial, like those of the Water Scorpion, the 

 Gerris may probably find them useful in seizing and 

 retaining the insects on which it preys, the middle and 

 posterior legs are very long, and it is by means of 

 these that it is enabled to dart along the surface with 

 such astonishing rapidity, the middle pair acting as 

 the principal organs of locomotion. To a casual 



