68 OUT OF DOORS. 



trying to crawl leisurely, but when it desires to move 

 with any swiftness it causes its body to undulate like 

 the movement of an eel or a serpent, and so gets along 

 at a good pace, its legs being used merely as balancers 

 to its body. 



Its character is best seen when it is at rest. It 

 bends its body nearly at right angles, and ascends to 

 the surface of the water, upon which the fringed leaf- 

 lets of the tail are spread so as to enable the creature 

 to breathe at ease. It thus hangs, as it were, sus- 

 pended by these leaflets, with its head downwards, its 

 monstrous jaws wide open, and its long legs spread, so 

 that it forms a perfect living trap, ready to close on 

 any unfortunate creature that may come in its way. 

 Being rather a wary creature it escapes the net unless 

 proper precautions be taken. I have always found 

 that the best plan is to stir up the mud of the pond, 

 and then to sweep the net rapidly through the turbid 

 water, thus catching the Dyticus larva before it sees 

 its danger. In Mrs. Coates's Bath ' are many of this 

 beetle's kinsfolk, but the manners and customs of all 

 are so similar that one will suffice as an example of 

 them all. 



Perhaps the reader may think that there is not 

 much to be seen in the common whirlwig, or whirligig 

 beetle (Gyrinus}, which may be seen in vast numbers 

 on the surface of the water, performing its mazy dance 

 in any sheltered spot. Summer or winter seem to be 

 the same to the whirlwig, and even in the cold days of 



