3 76 
TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
it with great velocity, Nature has given it a body somewhat like 
that of a wherry in shape. The long middle feet, which are covered 
with a fine close down like the rest of the body, glide on the water, 
and even remain motionless without becoming wet. Their food 
consists of other insects, and they are able in the adult stage 
to fly from pond to pond. It is very remarkable that the larvae 
of many species which differ only from the perfect insects by 
wanting wings, should be able to produce their kind without 
becoming full grown. 
The Ncpidce, or Water Scorpions, are carnivorous, like the 
Reduviince ; they may be known by their very short antennae, which 
seem to be hidden in cavities below the eyes, and by two long 
bristle-shaped processes, which project from the end of their tail, 
and by which they breathe. 
There are many groups of them. For instance the Nepa, or 
true Water Scorpions, which have slender legs, the front ones being 
used to seize their prey, the leg being folded on the thigh, as in the 
Mantida. These insects lay their eggs in packets upon stones or 
aquatic plants, but some kinds carry them on their back. They 
swim slowly, often immerse themselves in the mud, and live upon 
small aquatic animals. The Raneti'ce have long, thin, and slender 
bodies, with immensely long legs; but the Nepce we have just men- 
tioned have large and flat bodies. 
The Notonectidce are the true swimmers of this great division of 
the insects. They have a large head, short fore legs, and very long 
hind ones, which act as oars. All undergo incomplete metamorphoses. 
In the engraving on the opposite page Notoriecta glctuca, or the 
Boatman, may be seen low down. On the right are two water 
scorpions, Nepa cinerea, the smaller one being a larva. On the 
left hand the great sprawling Ranatra is on the top of the water. 
The Cicada family introduce us to the Homoptera , and form a 
well-characterised group, the kinds of which do not differ much 
amongst themselves, one Cicada being very much like another. In 
Southern Europe the Cigala {Cicada) are known to every one, and 
haye been celebrated since the time of the highest antiquity ; but 
they do not live in the centre and north of Europe. The 
perfect insects live upon trees, sucking the juice of the leaves, 
and the females deposit their eggs, from 500 to 700 in number, in 
