114 



INSECT LIFE. 



very broad paddles. Fig. 92 represents the form of 

 one of these. 



9. Remove with a pin one of the wing-covers and 

 observe the large membranous wing 

 compactly folded beneath it. Although 

 these insects are commonly seen only on 



Fig. 92. "^ water, they have good powers of flight, 

 and migrate from pond to pond by 

 means of their wings. I have taken them at electric 

 lights far from any water. 



10. The various kinds of beetles taken together 

 constitute the order Coleoptera, and the whirligig- 

 beetles form the family Gyrinidas of this order. 

 Write the two following labels and place them above 

 the whirligig-beetles in your collection : — 



Order Coleoptera (Co-le-op'te-ra). 

 TAe Beetles. 



Family Gyrinid^ (Gy-rin'i-dae). 

 The Whirligig-beetles. 



The Habits of Whirligig - beetles {School 

 Work). — Watch the living specimens that you have 

 in an aquarium and learn all you can of their habits. 

 The following are some of the points to be observed : 

 Compare their attitude when at rest with that of a 

 water-strider. Describe their method of locomotion. 

 Describe their actions when frightened. Can you 

 see any indications of their method of breathing 

 when under water? How do they remain beneath 

 the water? How do they rise to the surface? In 

 what way do the beetles endeavor to escape from 

 the water? Try to discover what they will eat — 



