^•72 OERINI/Si 



Genus Y1. -^Germus. 



j. HERE are only two fpecies belonging to this family of 

 infe£ls ; the Natator and the Americanus j both eafily dif- 

 thiguiihed by their form, as well as their manners. The 

 antennae are clavated, ftiff, and fhorter than the head : 

 The hinder legs are alfo fhort, flat, and very broad. 

 Thefe animals are faid to have four eyes *, two on the 

 upper and two on the under fide of the head j they ap- 

 pear in fad, on both fides of the head, but their number 

 is only two. 



The gerinus natator has aft KngVifh name, being known 

 in this country by that of the water-flea. It is that fmall 

 animal which is feen defcribing circles on the furface of the 

 •water, by running on it with great fwiftnefs. When an 

 attempt is made to take it, it plunges below and eludes 

 the grafp. The larvoe are faid to be found together 

 with thofe of the elytifcus, an animal confiderably 

 larger. 



The colour of the water-flea is a refplendent black, 

 ivi:h a fliade of brown : The elytra are adorned with 

 beautiful llrice, confiding of a number of points fo mi- 

 nute, as hardly to be oblcrved without the afliftance of 

 a raicrofcope. On the hinder part of the margins of 

 the elytra are feen, by the fame means, fmall protube- 



rancesj 



5 ^j'ftema Natars, 



