Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/406

* WATER-BOATMAN. 336 WATER-CLOSET. When their pools dry up they fly to other water, and are sometimes attracted to lights at night. About forty species occur in the United States, all belonging to the genus Corixa. The eggs of Corixa mercenaria and Corixa femorata are laid in enormous numbers in the lakes near the City of Mexico, and are made into cakes with meal by the natives and half-breeds. The adults are also eaten in llexico and in Egypt. WATERBRASH. See Pybosis. WATER-BtrCK, or KoB. One of the large marsh-loving African antelopes of the genus Cobus, several species of which go by other names, as 'singsing' (q.v.). The water-buck proper {Cobus eilipsiprymnus) is more than four feet tall, and remarkable for its long, shaggy, reddish coat. It is numerous all over Southern and Eastern Africa, roving in small bands about stony hills near the marshy rivers, to which it runs for refuge when alarmed. Its flesh is very poor for eating. See Plate of Antelopes. WATER BUFFALO. See Buffalo. WATER-BUG. In general terms, any aqua- tic insect of the order Hemiptera, including all of the members of the six families composing the group Crj-ptocerata or Hydrocorisae, as well as the Hebridse and Hydrobatidie. (See Wateb- Strider. ) The families Corixidse ( see Water- Boatman), Nepidae (see Water-Scorpion) . Gal- gulidce (see ToadBcg), and Belostomids (see Flsiikiller) belong to this group. The back-swimmers of the family Notonectidae are predaceous water-bugs resembling the water- boatmen, but the dorsum is very convex and they always swim with the ventral surface up- ward, a habit which distinguishes them from all other water-bugs. The female pierces holes in the stems of water-plants for her eggs. The adults hibernate in the mud at the bottom of streams and ponds. About a dozen species are known to inhabit the United States. The creeping water-bugs of the family Nau- corid.T are small, flat-bodied, oval water-bugs found in ponds containing plenty of vegetation, on which the creepers crawl, or about which they swim, feeding upon land-insects which have ac- cidentally fallen into the water. The marsh-treaders of the family Hydro- metridffi resemble the water-striders, but are more slender and delicate. The adults of our commonest species {Hydrometra lineata) hiber- nate under rubbish along the banks of slow streams and ponds, and lay their eggs singly, on the stems of aquatic plants. The larv.f fall into the water and remain near the bank, feeding upon the bodies of insects which fall into the stream. The only other true bugs which are in any way aquatic belong to the family Hebridoe, which contains very small species of semi-aquatic haliits, being found in very wet moss and damp littoral vegetation. The common cosmopolitan German cockroach or croton bug (Ectohin (/ennatncn) is often called 'the water-bug' in the United States, since it frequents the vicinity of water-pipes in houses. See CocKROAcn. WATERBXJRY, wn'ter-b6r-I. A city in New Haven f'ounty, Conn., 3.S miles southwest of Hartford, on the Naupatuck Kivcr. and on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (Map: Connecticut, C .3). It is attractively situated. There are three parks: the Green, Hamilton Forest, and South. Riverside Ceme- tery has great natural beauty. Among the edu- cational institutions are Saint Margaret's Diocesan School for Girls, the Convent of Notre Dame, and Gerard School. The Bronson Library contains 57,500 volumes. Other noteworthy fea- tures include the Southmayd Home for Old La- dies, Waterbury Hospital, the city hall, Masonic Temple, Odd Fellows' Block, and the Soldiers' Monument. Waterbury has long been known for its large industrial interests. It is the leading centre of the United States for the manufacture of brassware (including castings and finishings). The famous Waterbury watches also are made here. There are also foundries and machine shops, knitting mills, and manufactories of but- tons, stamped ware, lamps and reflectors, clocks, needles and pins, plated and Britannia ware, hosiery, automatic machinery, etc. The capital invested in all industries in the census year 1900 was .$23,421,640, and the value of the output was $33,778,905. The government is vested in a mayor, chosen biennially, and a unicameral coun- cil. Of the subordinate officials, the majority are appointed by the mayor, subject to the con- firmation of the council. The IBoard of Educa- tion, however, is chosen by popular vote. The water-works are the propert.v of the miinicipality. They were constructed in 1866, and represent an expenditure of $1,470,908. For maintenance and operation, the city spends annually about $423- 000, the main items being: schools," $180,000; in- terest on del)t. $61,000; police department, $41,- 000; fire department. $34,000; streets, $25,000; and municipal lighting, $22,000. Population, in 1890, 28,646; in 1900^51.139. Settled in 1677, Waterbury was part of Farm- ington until 1686, when it w-as incorporated as a town and its jii'esent name adopted in place of the old Indian name, Mattatuck. In 1691 it suffered greatly from a flood, and in 1712 an epidemic, called the 'Great Sickness,' carried a-vay one-tenth of its inhabitants. It was in- corporated as a city in 1853. In 1900 the town and city of Waterbury were united into one municipality. Consult Anderson (editor). The Toirn and CUy of Waterbiiri/ (3 vols., New Haven, 1896). WATER-CALTROPS. Aquatic plants. See Trapa. WATER-CHESTNUT. The edible seeds of the 'rnijKi iiK/tnis. called by the French marron d'eau. In China the fruit of ?'/<(/;« biniiinosu, known as ling ko, is common, it having been in- cluded among the five food grains of China. The seeds do not keep well, and those ofl'ered in bazaars are often decajed. The fresh nuts re- semble chestnuts in taste. The name water- chestnut is also given to the edible tubers of the Elcocharis tiibii-osiifi. a plant of the natural order CyperacciF, which is cultivated by the Chine.se in tanks very abiuulantly supplied with manure. It is destitute of leaves, except a slender short sheath or two at the base of each culm. The tubers are produced on stolons. They are in high estimation among the Chinese for food, and are eaten either raw or boiled. They are called pi-t.fi or innnt-fii. WATER-CHINQUAPIN. See .Vi;lum»o. WATER-CLOCK. See Ct.ep.sypra. WATER-CLOSET. See Plimbinq.