160 HEMIPTERA. 
natural curiosities ; hereafter we will ex- 
amine it ; and when you are pretty well 
acquainted with insects, we may proceed 
to learn something of other animals ; but, 
my dear Lucy, it will be much wiser to 
acquire a competent knowledge of one 
subject, than a smattering af many. 
Lucy. Indeed, mamma, that is very 
true; but I hope that we may afterwards 
go through all the classes of the animal 
kingdom* 
Mother, That will entirely depend 
upon your own industry. 
What say you now ? Shall we con^ 
elude to-day with the water scorpion, or 
shall we stop ? 
Lucy, Oh ! the water scorpion, if you 
can spare time. 
Mother, The nepa, or water scorpion^ 
like the boat fly, lives in ponds and pools, 
where, in all the stages of its life, it preys 
upon weaker insects. It is thus de- 
scribed : the fore legs are claw shaped, 
like those of a crab — the wings and elytra 
