AQUATIC BEETLES 67 



they had taken any food they swelled out to three or 

 four times the size of the egg from which they had 

 emerged. The young larva is mouse-coloured, and 

 the whole of the body transparent except on the 

 sides. 



" I took about thirty larvae from the brood on the 

 8th of July, and fed them with very small water- 

 snails, which they devoured in the same way as the 

 full-grown larvae do. The larva seizes the snail with 

 its mandibles, then bends its body backwards, and 

 rests the snail upon the broad back, which serves as 

 a table. In this position, holding the snail in its 

 legs, the larva breaks up and devours it. When small 

 snails were not to be had, the larvae managed very 

 well with large ones cut into pieces, and also with 

 tadpoles. If food ran short, they devoured one 



Fig. 15. — Larva of Hydrophilus piceus, from Lyonnet, showing characteristic bent 



attitude. 



another, though at other times they lived quietly 

 together, so that I have seen them share tadpoles 

 without disputes. They appeared even to like one 

 another's society. 



F 2 



