ITS EGGS DEPOSITED UNDER WATER. 237 



downwards, descended the stem or leaf of the plant, 

 to a depth of some inches below the surface of the 

 water, and there remained, as he supposed, for the 

 purpose of depositing her eggs. It was strange to 

 see a creature, who, but a few minutes before, had 

 been winging her way through the air, thus quietly 

 abiding in a different element, while the great work of 

 pro\'iding a suitable situation for her young was about 

 being accomplished. On one occasion, my inform- 

 ant, while she was thus engaged, touched her with 

 the extremity of his fishing-rod ; she then desisted 

 from her work, crawled up to the surface, and after 

 remaining there a few minutes, as if to allow the 

 cause of her molestation to pass by, again directed 

 her way downwards, and completed the important 

 task in which she had been interrupted. 



An analogous fact with respect to one of the May- 

 flies {Phryganeee), was noticed in a pond, in our 

 Botanic Garden, by Mr. Hyndman. He has kindly 

 favoured me with the following note respecting it, 

 dated May 27, 1833 :— " I first obser^-ed the Phry- 

 ganea on the leaf of an aquatic plant, from which it 

 crept down along the stem, under the water, very 

 nearly a foot deep ; it appeared then to have been 

 disturbed by some stickle-backs which approached, 

 and seemed inclined to attack it, and swam \'igorously 



