TIIK <; NAT'S LIFE-BOAT. 



and winged tlutterer. Then, only let it be borne in mind 

 that all perfect Insects have passed through three states, cor- 

 responding, though not similar, which are yclept by Entomo- 

 logists those of Larva, Pupa, and Imago. 



Now for the beginning of the Gnat's life of Buoyancy, 

 wliich commences on the water. Man has been believed by 

 the nations of antiquity to have 



" Learned of the little Nautilus to sail, 

 Spread the thin oar, and catch the rising gale ;" 



but he might also have taken a first lesson in boat-building 

 from an object common in almost every pond, though, certainly, 

 not so likely to attract attention as the sailing craft of that 



tf 



bold mariner, the little Argonaut. This object is a boat of 

 eggs, not a boat egg-laden ; nor yet that witch's transport, an 

 egg-shell boat, but a buoyant life-boat, curiously constructed 

 of her own eggs by the common dial. How she begins and 

 completes her work may be seen by any one curious enough 

 and wakeful enough to repair by five or six in the morning to 

 a pond or bucket of water frequented by Gnats, and those 

 who would rather see through other eyes than their own, 

 especially when, perhaps, half open, may read in the pages of 

 Reaumur * or Rennie t full descriptions of this mother boat- 

 builder's clever operations. The boat itself, with all we are 

 going to describe, and all we have depicted (from the life), 

 may be seen, at home and at all hours, within the convenient 



* Memoires pour servir a 1'histoire des Insectes. 

 t Insect Transformations. 



