. The popular natural history . Zoology. 526 tVATEk BEETLES. We now come to the large group of Water Beetles, which are divided into several families. In order to enable them to perform the various movements which are necessary for their aquatic existence, their hind legs are developed into oars with flattened blades and stiff hairy fringes, and the mode of respiration is slightly altered in order to accommodate itself to the surrounding conditions. It has been already mentioned that in all insects the respiration is conducted through a series of apertures set along the sides, and technically
. The popular natural history . Zoology. 526 tVATEk BEETLES. We now come to the large group of Water Beetles, which are divided into several families. In order to enable them to perform the various movements which are necessary for their aquatic existence, their hind legs are developed into oars with flattened blades and stiff hairy fringes, and the mode of respiration is slightly altered in order to accommodate itself to the surrounding conditions. It has been already mentioned that in all insects the respiration is conducted through a series of apertures set along the sides, and technically called spiracles In the Water Beetles, the spiracles are set rather high, so as to be covered by the hollowed elytra, and to be capable of breathing the air under those organs. When, therefore, the beetle dives it is in no ways, distressed for want of air, as it carries a tolerable-supply beneath the elytra. When, however, that supply is exhausted, the beetle rises to the suriace, just pushes the ends of the elytra out of the water, takes in a fresh supply of air, and again seeks its subaquatic haunts. The male of the Great Water Beetle, in conimon with other species, is. (Ilybius ater.) WAiKR beetles. (Dylicus diimdidius.) specially notable for the singular development of the fore-legs, the tarsi of which are developed in a most extraordinary apparatus caused by the dilata- tion of the three first joints, which are flattened so as to form a nearly circular disc, covered on its under surface with a nmltiiude of wonderfully-constructed suckers, one being very large, another about half its size, and the others very small, and set on pear-shaped footstalks. The larger specimen in the engraving is the Dyticus dimidiatus, and the smaller is the Ilybius ater, both British species. Passing by several large and interesting families, we come to the curious creatures which will at once be recognised by reference to the illustration. These beetles are popularly known by the name of Rove B
Size: 1744px × 1433px
Photo credit: © Central Historic Books / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
