Page:The Book of the Aquarium and Water Cabinet.djvu/144

132 in the section Pentamera, in which the tarsi of all the feet are live-jointed, the fourth being of ordinary size.

The Dytiscus is a true water-beetle, being aquatic in both its larva and perfect forms. The larva, known as the water-tiger, is found in plenty in the muddy ditches round London, and is a strong, stubborn, ugly, and ravenous worm, with a tail formed for respiration, and

curved mandibles to tear its prey to pieces. It is very active, and may be kept without difficulty; but nothing else should be placed in the same jar, unless intended as food for this savage. A small fish thrown is eagerly clutched, and held firm by the claws; and the larva then plunges its mandibles into it, and is soon buried head—deep in the mangled body of its prey. I have generally fed them on beef, but they prefer small fish, or larva of