180 UPLAND AND MEADOW. 



mouth to swallow the creature, had it chosen so to 

 do. 



The contrast between these small " spearmouths " 

 and their larger cousins, as seen in midsummer, was 

 very marked. 



So much for water- bugs; and now a word about 

 water-beetles. Of course, there were scuttle-bugs in 

 abundance. Where was there ever a creek, in summer, 

 that was not rippled by their erratic coursing? Un- 

 fortunately, they are so very common that they have 

 aroused no curiosity in the minds of most people, 

 yet they are curious creatures, and worthy of a passing 

 notice. We all know they are not easy to catch, except 

 with a dip-net; nor need we wonder, for they have 

 eyes on the top of their head, wherewith to watch the 

 upper regions, and a pair of equally good ones beneath, 

 to guide them when they dive out of your reach. 



These creatures have not escaped incorporation in 

 local weather-lore, and their unusual abundance is said 

 to be the sign of a shower. I have been for several 

 years in quest of the difference between many and a 

 great many of them ; so, if they are noticeably numer- 

 ous, do not turn back for an umbrella ; the chances be- 

 ing there are not quite enough of them to bring up the 

 shower. 



Bearing some resemblance to the whirligigs or scut- 

 tle-bugs are those much larger, shiny black beetles, the 

 young of which Packard aptly calls " water - tigers." 

 They are voracious enough to be called by any blood- 



