THE GREAT WATER-BEETLE. 329 



as to be painfully felt by the hand that holds it a 

 captive, though defended by a glove. In the larva 

 state it is almost equally destructive ; it swims 

 admirably ; its hinder legs are long and brawny, 

 beside being aided by a fringe of hairs, so that 

 they are powerful oars to propel its body with 

 celerity and ease. Nor must we omit a peculiarity 

 attending the constitution of this beetle, which 

 marks it as a creature especially endowed for the 

 station in which it is placed. Multitudes of insects 

 exist in the larva state, for a certain space of time, 

 in water; and, having accomplished a given period 

 in this state, perfecting their forms, they take wing, 

 and become aerial creatures, after which a return 

 to the element whence they sprang would be death 

 to them. But this beetle, when it has passed from 

 the larva state and obtained its wings, still lives in 

 that water which nourished it to this state of per- 

 fection, without any inconvenience, as long as it 

 suits its inclination ; when weary of this place, or 

 its food becoming scarce, it wings its way to another 

 pool, into which it immediately plunges, and re- 

 commences its life of rapine. Having deposited its 

 eggs in autumn, we suppose it to die in the winter; 

 yet many may survive this season, and, arising from 

 the mud in the spring, be undistinguished from 

 the recently perfected larvae. Such little notices 

 and indications of the habits of these obscure 

 creatures, though certainly unimportant, are not, 

 perhaps, wholly unprofitable ; for we so darkly see 

 our way, and proceed so slowly in acquiring intel- 



