THE WATER-FLEA. 317 



acquainted with this merry swimmer in his shining 

 black jacket. Retiring in the autumn, and re- 

 posing all the winter in the mud at the bottom of 

 the pond, it awakens in the spring, rises to the 

 surface, and commences its summer sports. They 

 associate in small parties of ten or a dozen, near 

 the bank, where some little projection forms a bay, 

 or renders the water particularly tranquil; and 

 here they will circle round each other without con- 

 tention, each in his sphere, and with no apparent 

 object, from morning until night, with great 

 sprightliness and animation ; and so lightly do 

 they move on the fluid, as to form only some faint 

 and transient circles on its surface. Very fond of 

 society, we seldom see them alone, or, if parted by 

 accident, they soon rejoin their busy companions. 

 One pool commonly affords space for the amuse- 

 ment of several parties ; yet they do not unite, or 

 contend, but perform their cheerful circlings in 

 separate family associations. If we interfere with 

 their merriment they seem greatly alarmed, dis- 

 perse, or dive to the bottom, where their fears 

 shortly subside, as we soon again see our little 

 merry friends gamboling as before. 



This lively little animal, arising from its winter 

 retreat shortly after the frog, at times in March, con- 

 tinues its gambols all the summer long, remaining 

 visible generally until the middle of October, thus 

 enjoying a full seven months of being ; a long period 



