118 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 
rest on a water-plant, the head with its fearful apparatus, formed of 
a strong pincher with two pairs of adjuncts, which can be moved in 
any direction, is placed in such a deceiving position as to almost 
always lure an unsuspecting little fish, tad-pole or insect, within its 
reach, 
As the grub gets larger, it turns darker in color, until having attained 
a size of about four inches in length, it has become nearly black 
on the back; the under part is then of acreamy white, and the sides 
have been fringed with hair. In this state its appearance is extremely 
repulsive, being about as ugly as anything can be imagined. The 
earliest and best time to destroy them is when the cocoon has been 
finished, and the female is standing guard in the water beneath, both 
can then be captured and obliterated, in this way great damage is 
prevented before there has been an opportunity for development; 
very much on the principle of the old proverb: ‘A stitch in time 
saves nine.” 
The grubs breathe through the posterior part of the body, and 
have to come to the surface occasionally for that purpose, at which 
time they are easily caught with a dip-net. 
In general appearance, the color excepted, the grub of the black 
water-beetle resembles that of the preceding. 
The beetle, moreover, is very prolific, spinning several cocoons 
at two different periods, namely, in the spring and high summer. 
Other varieties of this insect exist, the one under discussion being 
the most dangerous to the fish. So far as the others are concerned, 
it is sufficient to remember the injunction, allow nothing alive to 
remain in the company of the fish when newly hatched. 
THE DRAGON FLIES. 
The dragon flies (commonly known as snake-feeders) may be 
divided into three classes, all very destructive enemies of the fish. 
