71 



cannot get as near them as we would like. But we can 

 easily catch one in a net, take it home, place it in the 

 aquarium and study it at leisure. 



We find this to be its general appearance: — Body one 

 quarter to three quarters of an inch long, dark bro^vn above 

 and silvery-white below. Some specimens of each species 

 have wings while others do not, irrespective of sex. They 

 have quite large bead-like eyes and rather long antennae. 

 What interests us most, however, are the six legs ; the two 

 forward ones are short and quite strong, — very evidently 

 adapted to grasping objects; the middle and hind pairs 

 are long, slender and covered with fine hairs. 



The tips of the long legs form the supporting surface; 

 the body does not. unless accidentally, touch the water. 

 We see a little dimple or hollow in the water where each 

 foot rests. The bug is held up by the antipathy of water 

 to un-wetted surfaces, just as a dry needle, with due care, 

 can be made to float on the surface. 



Try to touch one on the back and you find that you can- 

 not; liis legs are quicker than your hand. How does he 

 skate about so easily. You will have to watch very closely 

 to see and then you will probably be in doubt. The fine 

 hairs on his feet give him suiEcient purchase on the water 

 so that he can spring forward, at the same time carrying 

 his feet forward to their normal position. The feet do 

 not seem to leave the water but just skim along the surface. 



Catch one of them and put him under water. — he vnH 

 come to the surface dry for he is clad in oilskins; this 

 explains why he can safely navigate the sometimes turbu- 

 lent brook waters. 



Of course everybody and everything eats. What does 

 the water-strider feed upon? Just drop a few mosquitos 

 or flies in the water near them and the chances are that 

 several of the striders will rush for them at once. Their 

 food is chiefly insectivorous; they grasp it in their front 

 legs, pierce it with their sharp beaks and suck its juices. 

 Many tiny gnats and millers are continually hovering over 

 the water, often touching the surface. It is those mifor- 



