QUEER WATER BABIES 
“Uncle Jack, what is this thing? Will it bite me? Is 
it poisonous?” cried Buddy. Buddy had stopped by an 
old stump and was looking among some weeds. “Do 
hurry,” he called. “I don't want it to get away, but I am 
afraid to pick it up. It has big wings, and it has great 
long horns sticking out in front of its head. They look 
like pincers.” 
Uncle Jack and the other children came quickly to 
see the strange thing Buddy had found. 
When Marylee saw it, she jumped back and cried, 
“Oh! Don't let it bite me! What can it be, Uncle Jack?” 
Uncle Jack reached down and quickly picked it up. 
“This is a queer treasure, but it cannot hurt you,” he 
said. “I am glad that you have learned not to pick up 
things until you know what they are. How many legs 
does this creature have?” 
“I can see six,” answered Fred. 
“We call a creature with six legs an insect,” said 
Uncle Jack. “This insect is a Dobson Fly. I know that 
this is Mr. Dobson Fly, because he has these long horns 
that are like pincers. Mrs. Dobson Fly does not have 
them. But he cannot pinch hard enough to hurt. See, 
I can put my finger into his pincers and he does not hurt 
me at all. But his babies have real pincers and they can 
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