GREAT BROWN WATER BEETLE 



evolutions, it seems to have solved the problem of per- 

 petual motion, and as the sun lights up the body-covering, 

 the little round fellows remind one of globules of quick- 

 silver, and as equally elusive I It belongs to the Family 

 Gyrintdce, the larvae living below the surface, but the 

 adults, as indicated, are surface-skimmers, rushing here, 

 there, and everywhere by means of their paddle-shaped 

 middle and hind legs. The front pair are used for 

 seizing and holding prey. 



We again make the acquaintance of further predaceous 

 insects among the Dytiscidce, the representative selected 

 for this family being Dytisciis marginalis, or Great Brown 

 Water Beetle, (Figs, ii, 12 and 13). This fine insect 

 is a terror of the pond or stream in which it dwells, 

 both in the larval and adult states. It is one of the 

 " sharks " of insect-Hfe, and woe betide any creature 

 which it is able to tackle successfully. Once it secures 

 a hold, there is no leaving go. The tapered larva is 

 prominently segmented, and bears a pair of strong 

 jaws, and breathing tubes at the opposite extremity. 

 It may be mistaken for the larva of the Dragon Fly by 

 the inexperienced. The pupa is thicker, and bears 

 more evidence of the creature that-is-to-be, and the 

 imago is dark olive-brown, with large wing-cases, and 

 strong jaws. This beetle is free of all the elements, as 

 it can crawl, fly, and swim, and will, on occasions, leave 

 one sheet of water for another. It is a fine diver and 

 swimmer, the hind pair of Hmbs being flat-like, and 

 fringed with hairs, specially adapted for the purpose 



41 



