INHABITANTS OF THE WATER-FILM 69 



by suddenly releasing the spring, it is projected to an enor- 

 mous distance. A jump of 40 times its own length is by no 

 means breaking the record, and should we compare a 6-ft. man 

 with this little creature we would come to the astonishing re- 

 sult that he would be able to leap 240 ft., and not only do this 

 once, but practically continually, if he were as agile as Podura. 

 Yet Podura has by no means the grace of an athlete, but is on 

 the contrary a badly built little creature, the essence of un- 

 gainliness. The spring is held by the insect in the correct 

 position, and does not remain so on the death of the creature, 

 thus proving that it requires muscular power to hold it in its 

 place. The manipulation of the spring before and after jump- 

 ing causes some inconvenience, and so we find that springtails 

 prefer to walk unless the occasion necessitates more rapid pro- 

 gression. Apart from the trouble involved, a jump often ends 

 in the creature landing on its back, instead of in the normal 

 position, and once so placed the unfortunate insect finds it no 

 easy matter to regain its legs. 



Springtails have one great advantage over most birds and 

 beasts that roam our world, for they cannot break the water- 

 film however much they may leap and frolic on the " element " 

 so treacherous. But the springtail, like many others, is far 

 from being satisfied as matters are, and so occasionally wanders 

 down the stem of a plant, holding on the support by means of 

 its sharp little claws. This enterprise sometimes ends in dis- 

 aster : for should a storm arise and the weed be violently 

 shaken, the investigator losing its foothold rises to the surface, 

 and there, unable to break the film, must remain beneath it and 

 die eventually. It so happens that Podura is well clothed with 

 fine hairs, and so remains dry although immersed. 



The young springtails are as agile as their parents, but 

 naturally smaller and lighter in colour. They are full of fun, 

 only too willing to leap on to an adult's broad back, and to 

 cling there however much the latter may try to dislodge them. 

 At times two or more youngsters will play a game worthy of 

 boy scouts, a regular rough and tumble. They are certainly 

 pugilistic even when mere babies, and savage fights are con- 

 tinually taking place. When two adults meet they will often 

 salute each other by violently agitating one of their antennae, 

 and sometimes without more than a moment's hesitation seize 

 each other by the head. 



Life amongst the springtails is not all jump and fight. 

 Hygiene also plays a part ; in fact when time allows old and 

 young, children and babies, wash their faces and comb their 

 backs. The little animal licking one of its front legs, as it is 



