Ch. XII.] "WATBB, BEETLES. LAEGE SPIDEES. 189 



end, diverging a little from time to time, but passing over 

 the same spot again and again. Whenever I posted myself, 

 however, near one of these spots with my net, it almost 

 invariably avoided coming within reach ; but if I did get a 

 cast, and partially entangled it, with a mighty struggle it 

 freed itself, and was off like the wind ; nor would it return 

 to the same spot as long as I might wait, although I should 

 probably find it there next day. All the other Libellulse, 

 however active, were to be caught, but this one evaded all 

 my attempts. 



In these pools water-beetles were not uncommon ; the 

 largest a species of Hydaticus, which were in about equal 

 numbers with a smaller species of Dytiscus. But by far 

 the most curious was an elegantly-shaped species pointed 

 anteriorly, and with the borders of the wing-cases beautifully 

 sculptured, which appears to be the Porrorhynchus margina- 

 tus of Java. 



Within the jungle, one is often brought up suddenly by 

 an immense web which entirely blocks up the way between 

 two trees, and in which a large spider (Nephila) has its 

 abode. This species has a rectangular body, 1^ to 2 inches 

 long, and very long legs, stretching 5^ inches across, and 

 presenting the appearance of a Longicorn beetle, its two 

 anterior legs looking like antennae. In most of their webs 

 I observed small spiders, which appeared to be at home 

 there, and probably fed upon the remnants of the larger 

 spider's repast. One of these had a remarkable mode of 

 feigning death when disturbed. Uniting four legs in front 

 and four behind, they presented with the body a uniform 

 curve, and the spider might, in this condition, be readily 

 mistaken for a little bit of curved twig or bark. 



A very large carpenter bee (Xylocopa latipes) flies about 



