HEMIPTEEA. 101 



two species, other eggs of a more considerable size, and which he 

 attributed to a new species of the genus Notonecta, about which 

 we are now going to say a few words. 



The Notonecta glaitca, which Geoffrey calls the large bug with 

 oars ("Grande punaise a avirons"), is very common in ditches, reser- 

 voirs, and stagnant waters. Its body is oblong, narrow, contracted 

 posteriorly, convex above, flat below, having, at its sides and its 

 extremities, hairs which, when spread out, support the animal on 

 the water. Its head is large and of a slightly greenish grey, and 

 has on each of its sides a very large eye of a pale brown colour. 

 Its thorax is greyish, the elytra of a greenish grey, the mem- 

 branous wings white. Of its legs the front four are short ; but 

 the hind legs, almost twice as 

 long, are furnished with long 

 hairs, and resemble oars. It 

 is with the aid of these that 

 the animal moves through the 

 water; and it does so in a 

 singular manner, placing itself 

 on its back, and generally rig.77.-Not<mectagiauca. 



in an inclined position, as in Fig. 77. 



"When this insect, on the contrary, drags itself along on the 

 mud, the front legs are those which it employs, the hind legs 

 being idle, and merely drawn along behind it. It is generally to- 

 wards the evening or during the night that it comes out of the 

 water, to walk and to fly, if it wishes to pass from one marsh to 

 another. 



This blood-thirsty insect lives entirely by rapine ; it is one of 

 the most carnivorous of insects. Those which it attacks die 

 very soon after they have been bitten by it. De Geer thinks 

 that the water-bug drops into the wound a poisonous humour. 

 It seizes upon insects much bigger, and apparently much stronger, 

 than itself, and does not spare its own species. 



The instrument with which the Notonecta attacks its prey is 

 composed of a^very strong and very long conical beak, formed 

 of four joints. The sucker is composed of an upper piece, short, 

 pointed, and of four fine pointed hairs. 



The female of the Notonecta glauca lays a great number of eggs, 



