Page:The Book of the Aquarium and Water Cabinet.djvu/149

Rh and for a length of time, that proves them to be by no means subject to giddiness.

The species of Gyrinus are not numerous in Britain, not more than eight being known to naturalists; but the paucity of species is compensated by the profuseness of the individuals, and of these natator is the most abundant.

When placed under a lens, this beetle bears the form represented in the next page. The colour is blue-black, with a resplendent metallic lustre, in which shades of copper, silver, and bronze occur, as we view it at various angles to the rays of light. The thorax is marked with three transverse lines on each side, of which the