BUGS. 
39 
dages with its antennae. The aphis will invariably 
yield a drop of clear, transparent honey which the 
ant will greedily devour. The plant-louse shows 
no sign of fear of the ant and the ant does not 
harm the plant-louse. There seems to be a perfect 
understanding between these widely different in¬ 
sects. This peculiar habit of ants and aphides has 
led people to call the latter “ ant’s cows.” 
THE SCORPION-BUG. 
This remarkable bug is one of the aquatic species. 
It is also known as the “ water-scorpion ” and the 
“ ranatra.’ 
This insect may be seen skimming over the 
surface of the water in summer. The body is 
very long and slender and the 
legs are very long indeed. The 
front pair of legs are modified so 
as to be used like the pincers of 
the scorpion, for seizing and 
holding prey. Hence the name, 
“water-scorpion.” The abdo¬ 
men has a pair of slender filiform 
appendages nearly as long as the 
legs. These are stiff and horn¬ 
like. They may be drawn close 
together so as to form a tube 
for they are grooved on the Fiq 23 _ The Scor . 
inner surface. The legs also are pion-bug. 
curiously grooved, so that the tibia can fit into 
