THE DRAWING OF THE SEINE. 175 



thither ; or is the fish afraid of the creature ? They are 

 bloodthirsty at times, and then attack small fishes. The 

 specimen I gathered- to-day may have been injured, but 

 it did not resent handling, and seemed active enough 

 when I placed him in an aquarium. 



There is another of these aquatic bugs fully as inter- 

 esting as the water-boatman. It is called a water-scorpion, 

 but there is no sting in its tail or malice in its heart ; it 

 has the manner of a philosopher, or, at least, of a contem- 

 plative rambler. Unlike the peaceful (?) Corixa, which 

 swims with its back up, or the Notonecta, which swims 

 on its back, this so-called scorpion walks leisurely about 

 the bottom of the pond or ditch, intent upon its own 

 business, the character of which, by the way, I have not 

 been able to determine. 



Of course it can swim, and very well too, but this is 

 not a favorite mode of locomotion, and when a summer 

 pond nearly dries up, can fly to deeper and more certain 

 waters. In this respect they have something to learn, 

 for when they can recognize a temporary pool from per- 

 manent waters they will be saved the trouble of migra- 

 tion. 



I have intimated that this water-scorpion is a bit of a 

 philosopher, because I am really convinced that it is, 

 yet to specify the indications of such a fact is impossible. 

 I have never seen a single act that demonstrated its in- 

 tellectual superiority over its associates, insects as quick- 

 witted, possibly, as they ; but something in the manner 

 of the creature is certainly suggestive. 



This may seem like trifling with the subject, but it is 

 not. Those who are accustomed to study the lower 



