18 COLEOPTERA. 



pearls, moving about in different directions, 

 and reflecting the light in a very pleasing man- 

 ner. Sometimes they rest as if fatigued with 

 their exertions, and remain without the slightest 

 motion ; but on being approached, they instantly 

 strike off to a distance on the surface, or en- 

 deavour to save themselves by plunging with 

 equal celerity to the bottom. 



Sometimes they remain at the bottom grap- 

 pling with an aquatic plant ; for being lighter 

 than the w T aters in which they live, it is neces- 

 sary for them to cling to something while they 

 stay there. When on the surface, the upper 

 part of their body is entirely dry; but when they 

 plunge, a small bubble of air, like a silver ball, 

 remains attached to them, and has a very pretty 

 effect. They have a very strong smell, which 

 exhales from their body, particularly in hot 

 weather, and which leaves a most disagreeable 

 scent upon the fingers after touching them. 



The females deposit their eggs on the leaves 

 of aquatic plants. They are very small, long, 

 of a cylindrical shape, and of a white colour. 

 In about eight days the larvae leave their eggs, 



