WONDERS OF POND LIFE. 1 85 



the water usually is taken in and expelled slowly, 

 but when seeking its prey, forced out as by a 

 squirt-gun, which carries the animal along with 

 the swiftness of an arrow. 



The beetles living in the water are really curious. 

 It is interesting to watch their habits as they go 

 paddling round in the glass tank, as busy as on the 

 first day of their captivity; now swimming here 

 and there as briskly as some of their land relatives 

 run, now diving to the bottom to roll up portions 

 o^ silt, or to rest on some accommodating snail, 

 which is making its daily tour of inspection along 

 the sides. The gentle vegetable-feeding carp or 

 the smaller dace do not disturb their wanderings, 

 but live with them as a happy family, apparently 

 regarding them as the rightful occupant. How 

 nicely has far-seeing Nature modified the different 

 genera of Coleoptera she intended to be aquatic ! 

 One pair of legs are altered into oars, or covered 

 with stiff hairs, by which they propel their boat- 

 like bodies through the water, while the wing- 

 covers, and the fine pubescence on the abdomen, 

 and in some species on the thorax, are especially 

 adapted to hold the film or bubble of air for respi- 

 ration ; thus enabling these creatures to remain a 

 long time under water to obtain their food. 



