CONTENTS. Xlll 



a volume in the natural-history library. To the left is a highly 

 magnified figure of the foot, and in the centre are the larva and pupa of 

 another species much resembling it, abundant in its imperfect stages 

 between the membranes of dock leaves 32 



Try Lightness, friend Poet. 



A leaf of the Poet's epic failure, exposed to the critical scrutiny of a fly on its 



return to the author from a butter-shop 55 



4. THE GNAT. A LIFE OF BUOYANCY. 



Transformation of the common Gnat, Culex pipiens, the eggs united in a 

 boat-like form ; the aquatic larva suspended, head downwards ; the 

 pupa with head upwards; and, last stage of all, the pupa with the 

 winged gnat emerging from it 56 



Let us strive to keep up our buoyancy. 



The buoyant Gnat Pupa, and the winged Gnat which half flies, half walks 

 upon the water, figuring the light spirits which dance upon the stream 

 of life, and are unsubmerged by the missiles of care 73 



5. THE WOOD ANT AND THE APHIDES. 



Aphides of the Oak. Two of the large brown Aphis quercus, with their 

 curious suckers, and another species of the oak with the wood Ant, 

 Formica rufa } in search of honey-dew, magnified 74 



No one took notice of our poor dripping traveller. 



The luxuriant and well-fed Aphis, in fashionable attire and sheltered from 

 the storm by her acorn-cup parasol, passes disdainfully by the starving 

 but industrious Ant, seated unsheltered, naked, and solitary, on a 

 toad-stool . 92 



6. LIFE IN DEATH. 



The Tortoise-shell Butterfly, Vanessa *Urticce. Suspended beneath the parapet 

 of the wall is the chrysalis of the Cabbage Butterfly, Pontia Brassica. 

 Above is the hairy caterpillar of the Tiger Moth, Arctia caja. To the 

 right are three caterpillars of the Magpie Moth, Abraxas grossulariata, 



