220 FLASHLIGHTS ON NATURE 



beetle, in shape like a grain of corn ; but as he is 

 intended to sport and circle on the surface of the 

 water in the broad sunshine, he is clad in glistening 

 mail of iridescent tints, gorgeous with bronze and 

 gold, to charm the eyes of his fastidious partner. 

 You seldom see whirligigs alone ; they generally 

 dart about in companies on the surface of some 

 calm little haven in the pond, a dozen at a time, 

 pirouetting in and out with most marvellous gyra- 

 tions, yet never colliding or interfering with one 

 another. I have often watched them for many 

 minutes together, wondering whether they would 

 not at last get in one another's way : but no ; at 

 each apparent meeting, they glide off in graceful 

 curves, and never touch or graze. They go on 

 through figures more complicated than the Lancers 

 or Sir Roger de Coverley, now advancing, now 

 retreating, always in lines of sinuous beauty, with- 

 out angularity or strain, and apparently without 

 premeditation ; yet never for a second do they 

 interfere with a neighbour's mazy dance, often as 

 they cross and recross each other's merry orbits. 

 Dear little playful things they seem, as if they 

 enjoyed existence like young lambs or children. 

 Sociable, alert, for ever gambolling, they treat life 

 as a saraband, but with a wonderfully keen eye for 

 approaching danger. They look at times as if you 

 could catch them without trouble ; yet put down 

 your hand, and off they dart at once to the bottom, 

 or elude you by a quick and vigilant side move- 

 ment, always on the curve, like a good skater or a 

 bicyclist. 



