INSECTS. 15 



trees ; and great Cicada hid themselves iii the dense canopy of 

 leaves and filled the air with their monotonous chirping. Thus 

 the insects which fell by mere chance into the lake reveal to us 

 a rich and multifarious forest life at (Eningen. 



If we could visit the former meadow-ground, we should find 

 upon its herbs and flowers exactly the same kinds of insects that 

 we now meet with in Swiss forest-pastures. We should see 

 numerous Chrysomelina and Rhynchophora, spotted and golden 

 Lamellicorns (Trichius), metallic shield-bugs, flies of various 

 colours (Syrphus) , bees and humble-bees sucking the honey of 

 the flowers ; but there were also predaceous beetles near (espe- 

 cially the species of Telephorus and Malachius), watching the 

 peaceful nectar-drinkers and seeking to overpower them. 



Passing to the Lake of (Eningen we should find among its 

 reeds and rushes the same forms of insects which we now observe 

 on the banks of the Swiss lakes golden Chrysomelas (C. calami) 

 sunning themselves on the leaves of the reeds, green Donacice 

 sitting in the flowers of the rushes, active species of Lixus 

 climbing about on the aquatic Umbelliferse, and numerous 

 dragonflies, often adorned with varied colours, hovering over the 

 vegetation. The water-beetles, especially the Dytisci and Hy- 

 drophili, are exceedingly numerous, and they are also remarkable 

 for their large size. The thirty species from (Eningen with 

 which Prof. Heer is acquainted no doubt committed great devas- 

 tation among the spawn of fishes. The Dytiscidse especially are 

 very voracious creatures ; and of these there are found two large 

 species (Dytiscus Lavateri and Cy bister Agassizi, Heer) . If we 

 add to these the shining whirligig-beetles (Dineutus), which, 

 no doubt, like their living relatives, collected in joyous com- 

 panies and performed circular evolutions on the surface of the 

 water), the numerous larvae of dragonflies and midges, the 

 water-scorpions, and gigantic water-bugs, we must admit that 

 in the Lake of (Eningen life was exhibited under multifarious 

 forms. 



Most of the aquatic insects were predaceous animals feeding 

 on young fishes, Mollusca, and other Annulosa. The land-fauna 

 comprises many species which lived by preying upon other in- 

 sects; but in general the carnivorous species were less mime- 



