PECULIAR MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 383 



Some of these water insects have such slender feet, 

 that we can only explain their not sinking in the wa- 

 ter on the same principle as that of a small needle 

 floating when very dry and laid exactly level. Others 

 again have their feet fringed with fine hairs which 

 buoy them up ; while the tipulidan gnats ( Chironomi) 

 and other flies, are, perhaps, aided by their wings in 

 keeping them afloat; for we have observed several 

 aquatic flies skimming on the surface of the water, 

 apparently half running, half flying. Linnasus saw 

 one of these little tipulae, of a black colour, perform- 

 ing gyrations on the water similar to those of the 

 whirlwig (Gyrinus): others use their wings as the 

 swan does, by way of a sail. 



Other insects walk both through the water, and at 

 its bottom, in a similar manner to walking on land, 

 and not by striking with their feet, as is done in 

 swimming. It is in this manner that the minute 

 pretty water- mite (Hydrachna geographica, MUL- 

 LER), may be seen in every ditch and pond around 

 London, pacing along, often in company with a still 

 more showy one (Limnochares holosericea, LATR.), 

 whose bright scarlet colour renders it very easily re- 

 cognised, and may readily lead a young naturalist to 

 suppose that the scarlet satin mite (Trombidiutn 

 holosericeum, LATR.), so frequent on dry banks in the 

 spring, has abandoned the land for the water. The 

 latter, however, is much larger. 



The amphibious nature of those winged beetles 

 which can walk at the bottom of water, is matched, 

 if not out-rivalled, by the water-ouzel (Cinclus 

 aquations , BECHSTEIN), which we have repeatedly seen 

 walk deliberately under water, and continue its pace 

 for many yards, as if it had been on land.* As this 



* J. R. 



