NEPA CINEREA. 161 
are crossed over the body — the elytra 
near the thorax are of a leathery consist- 
ence — the hinder pair of legs are hairy — 
and it has only one joint in each foot. 
Lucy. You have not mentioned the 
antennse. 
Mother, It has no distinct antennae ; 
but it seems doubtful whether the fore 
legs are truly legs, or vt^h ether they are 
not rather antennae, as the creature always 
walks upon the other four legs*. 
The nepa cinerea^y the most common 
speciesj drops its eggs into the hollow 
stalks of bull-rushes, where they lie con- 
cealed ; these eggs are of an oval shape, 
and have at one end two or three hairs, 
or bristles. Both the larva and the per- 
fect nepa are fierce and voracious ; the 
latter swims very swiftly, seizes its prey 
with the fore legs, and holding it fast 
with its pincer-shaped claws, tears it and 
sucks its blood with the sharp rostrum, or 
* Plate XII. 
f Cinereus, ash coloured. ' 
