160 GOLDFISH VARIETIES AND 
predaceous and very powerful. The smaller sizes are the more to be 
feared, as they are not so easily seen. While this is a vicious enemy, it is 
not one that frequently gets into the fish tank except by flight and as only 
the adults fly they are easily detected by their size. In large outdoor rear- 
ing pools or lakes they are a very practical menace. The colors range 
from clear, dark reddish brown to dull olive. With some of the smaller 
genera, Serphus and Zaitha it was supposed that females lay the eggs on 
their own backs. Some writers have accepted this popular misconcep- 
tion without investigation. It has been fully established that the female 
fastens her eggs on the back of an unwilling male, who only submits to 
the indignity after a struggle. 
Water Scorpion (Nepide). We have here another of the insects 
spending most of its time in aquatic dirt and rubbish awaiting innocent 
passers-by who, for their unwariness; will pay with their lives. Water 
Fic. 108. Water Scorpion (Life size) 
scorpions depend upon their obscurity to get near their prey, which they 
quickly seize with their modified forelegs. While this insect is common 
enough to the naturalist, it is not one with which the fish-culturist need 
be seriously concerned. 
Whirligig Beetle (Gyrinide~). This well-known beetle is common 
to nearly all slow-flowing streams and pools, keeping up a perpetual 
movement on the surface of the water, on which they glide apparently 
without effort. On account of its size and shape it is often called the 
Fics. 109 anp 110. Wuurticic BEETLE AND Larva (Enlarged three diameters) 
coffee bug. The breeder of fishes is not harrassed by this insect but 
occasionally an aquarist will be tempted to introduce one in a fish-tank. 
This is a mistake. They are predaceous and can inflict a severe bite. The 
larva, which is not so well known, is also predaceous. 
