THE LEGS OF INSECTS. 



199 



letting it go again. S warn mer dam relates that he beheld one, 

 which was not more than the fourth part of an inch in length, 

 jump out of a box six inches in depth ; which is as if a man six 

 feet high should raise himself in the air by jumping 144 feet, 

 a piece of agility evidently far surpassing the powers of Leotard 

 himself ! 



The Podurinse, or springtails, make use with a similar effect 

 of the long-forked process with which their body is terminated : 

 while at rest, it is bent forwards be- 

 neath the abdomen, but on being 

 suddenly extended backwards it jerks 



its owner high into the air. 



The Elateridse leap in a still more sprmgtaii. 



extraordinary manner. Their legs are so short that they are 

 unable to right themselves again when placed on their back ; 

 but Providence, which leaves none of its creatures unprotected, 

 has given them another means to ex- 

 tricate themselves from this unpleasant 

 situation. A strong spine situated be- 

 neath the thorax fits at pleasure into a 

 small cavity on the upper part of the ab- 

 domen, and having been withdrawn from 

 its socket, springs back with consider- 

 able, force; thus jerking the body seve- 

 ral inches high into the air, and enabling 

 it to regain its natural position. If the 

 elater does not alight upon his feet 

 in the first instance, he repeats his leap 

 until he has gained his point. 



Legs such as those of the grasshopper or mole-cricket would 

 have been but of little use to insects dwelling in the water ; but 

 as we find the feet of the seals and walruses, which likewise 

 spend the greater part of their existence in water, con- 

 verted into fins which enable them to emulate the fishes in 

 swimming, thus also the feet of the aquatic insects are admira- 

 >bly adapted to their peculiar mode of life. 



The four posterior legs of the Dytiscidse or water-beetles are 

 not only broad and flattened like oars, but ciliated along their 

 internal margin, by which means the rowing surface is still more 



Elater noct'ihicus (C]iek- 

 beetie). 



