THE STUDY OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
(301 
would make a most substantial covering, which is necessary in these 
parts, as the winds are so very high at times, that I have seen a roof, 
with the exception of the rafters, completely lifted off and crushed 
to the ground. 
It is but justice to mention here, that the Highland Society has 
done a great deal for that part of the country; and what is still more 
gratifying, they are continuing their exertions. Poverty may plead 
an excuse for many of the landed proprietors there; but did they, 
in addition to their present Institutions, form Associations for im¬ 
proving the conditions of the labouring classes, (such as that estab¬ 
lished in Sussex,) then the end we have in view would be much 
easier accomplished. The Bricklayer’s Labourer. 
London , '2'Srd February , 1833. 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
ARTICLE XIV. 
ON THE STUDY OF ENTOMOLOGY— By Rusticus. 
(Continued from p. 420 .) 
Subsection 2nd— Hydradephaga ; Water Beetles, Toe-Biters. 
Family VIII. —Dytici'd^e ; 12 genera. 
Most of these grow, to a considerable size, and are capable of 
biting very severely; they all inhabit stagnant pools, from whence 
they issue in the evenings, to make excursions on the wing: the 
larvae have each six eyes, and are exceedingly rapacious, feeding on 
all water insects that come within their reach, as well as one another. 
1. Haliplus, 
2. Pselobius, 
3. Hyphidrus, 
4. Hygrotus, 
5. Hydrophones, 9. Hydaticus, 
6. Noterus, 10. Dy'ticus, 
7. Laccopliilus, 11. Cybister, 
8. Colymbetes, 12. Acilius. 
Family IX.—G yrinidae .— 1 Genus.—1 Gyrinus. 
The most common species in this genus is the Gyrinus natdtor, 
the little shining.waterflea or whirl-wig, which may be seen skim¬ 
ming about on the surface of almost every stagnant pool, this re¬ 
markable insect is possessed of two pairs of eyes; one pair being 
situated on the lower part of the forehead adapted for seeing in the 
water, and the other on the upper part of the forehead for seeing in 
the air; the larvae, like those of the Dyticidae, are supposed to be 
possessed of six eyes each, but De Geer could not properly ascertain. 
