84 UP AND DOWN THE BROOKS. 



If, as in Adam and Eve's case, panoply against 

 harm argues innocence, then these Gyrinidce 

 might claim to be the most perfect of beetles. 

 But alas ! here is another case of duplicity in this 

 brook, for the Gyrinidce are black murderers, kill- 

 ing by trade, and when one sees a host of them 

 whirling over some corner of a pond, it is as 

 though one were looking at a band of pirates, for 

 every available small insect that comes within 

 reach of those GfyriniddB is doomed. Sociability 

 is a characteristic of the Gyrinidce. It is seldom 

 that a single one goes skimming by himself. Gen- 

 erally they prefer to whirl in small crowds. Be- 

 holding their evil deeds one might think that the 

 Gyrinidce were sociable in order to keep each 

 other in countenance, much as a band of sworn 

 cut-throats might be. 



Still, during the last few days of February or 

 the first of March, before the Gyrinidce have 

 come out in great numbers, there will here and 

 there be found one whirling by himself. It re- 

 quires some skill to catch a beetle of this sort, 

 unless one has learned the trick of confusing him 

 by splashing with the dredger. The beetle will 

 whirl and whirl till one's eyes are blinded and 

 one's head is dizzy with the effort of following 

 the motions ; and then, unless a fortunate scoop 

 is made suddenly with the dredger, down goes 

 the beetle under the surface and is lost to view. 

 Moreover it is a wise person that can keep a 



