394 7"E DltER» 



Genus XXIV — Bytifcus, tJie Diver, 



1 HIS genus comprehends twenty-three fpecies of aquatic 

 infei^s, moftly of a very large fize ; they are diftinguiQi- 

 ed by the antenna:, which are either fetaceous, or ter- 

 minated by a perfoliated knob ; the hind legs are armed 

 with claws, and furniflied with vibriiTi, that enable the 

 infeft to fwim *, 



The divers have obtained their name from the fudden 

 efcape they make from danger, by plunging into water. 

 By day, they frequent the ftagnated pools, from whence 

 they iffue in the evening, to make excurfions on the 

 wing. The males have furrowed elytxa, while thofe of 

 the females are plain. The latter, when impregnated, 

 depofits her eggs in the water, wrapped up in afilky cod, 

 of a texture fufficiently ftrong to protect them from pre- 

 datory infe£ls, efpecially thofe of their own kind, which 

 are mutually rapacious. Their larvae are worms confift-r 

 ang of eleven fegments, diftinguifhablt: by the largenefs 

 of their heads, and by four filiform an cen nee ; they de- 

 vour other water infe61s, and even each other. When 

 arrived at their winged Hate, their bodies are pi'oteded 

 by a hard fcaly coat of mail : If caught unguardedly, 

 they are in that (late capable of giving a fevere bite, as 

 well as of wounding the hand with a fliarp fpine. 



Dyticu*' 



* Syftema Nat. p. 664, 



