Aquatic Insects 105 



our Nepa cinerea is a good example. It 

 is broad and extremely flat, somewhat 

 leaf -like in appearance. There is an 

 appendage at the apex of the abdomen 

 consisting of two bristles that, together, 

 form a tube through which air can 

 pass. The front legs are especially 

 adapted for the capture of the prey, 

 for, like the Boatmen, the Water Scor- 

 pions are carnivorous. It is owing to 

 these modified front legs bearing a 

 supposed resemblance to those of a 

 true scorpion that the popular name 

 has been bestowed. The other type, 

 of which a good instance is the Long 

 Water Scorpion (Ranatra linearis), in- 

 stead of being broad and flat, is long 

 and thin, measuring over three inches 

 to the end of the tail-like breathing 

 apparatus. It frequents weeds, and 

 when at rest is difficult to detect owing 

 to its stick-like form. The eggs of Nepa 

 cinerea are laid in the tissues of plants ; 



