WATEE-BtTGS, WATEB-SCOEPIONS, ETC. 



233 



of the sharp beak. N. cinerea has great courage, or recklessness. 

 For example, I have taken a Nepa from its aquarium, in which 

 it has lived for a consider- 

 able time, and placed it 

 with a tiny minnow, in a 

 sanoer before me; but no 

 sooner did the little fish 

 swim within reach of the 

 fore-legs of the " scorpion,'' 

 than it was seized by them 

 and pressed against the 

 hungry creature's rostrum. 

 Tet this "water-bug" had 



not ordy been moved from one vessel to another a minute 

 or two previously, but also from one room to another. 



N. cinerea (Fig. 147) is very flat, elliptical, about lin. long, 

 and of a dark brown colour, with a slight reddish tinge. 



Fig. V\b. Nepa cinekea. 



Fig. 147. Lakva and Perfect Insect of Nepa cinerea. 



The upper part of the abdomen is a brighter red, and the 

 head is smaU and sunk almost to the prominent eyes into 

 the thorax. At the end of the body there are two long and 



