28 



THE WINGS OF INSECTS. 



rious of these insects is the water-scorpion, the anatomy 

 of which has been beautifully described by Swammer- 

 dam,^ it may be found in the weedy parts of Stone- 

 house leat, floating down the stream or clinging to the 

 leaf of a water plant with its formidable-looking fore 

 feet. The annexed cuts represent 



No. 1. The wing of a cockchafer. 2. The wing of an ear\\ig;. 

 3. The wing of a waterfly. 4. The wmg of a midge ; all magnified. 



NO. I. 



NO. III. 



NO. IV. 



The rapidity of flight and dexterity of evolution 

 manifested by some small insects may be illustrated 

 by the fact that the smaller gnats (Tipulidse) will fly 

 unwetted in a heavy shower of rain, their sight is so 

 acute and their motion so quick that they can steer 

 their way through drops larger than their own bodies, 

 which, if they fell upon them would dash them to the 

 ground. t 



An anonymous writer in Nicholson's Journal, J cal- 

 culates the common house fly makes about 600 strokes 

 with its wings in a second, which carry it five feet, but 

 if alarmed it can increase its speed six or seven fold, 

 that is to thirty or thirty five feet every second. A race 

 horse would pass over ninety feet in a second, going 

 more than a mile a minute, during which time the fly 

 would move more than a third of a mile. 

 Liskeard. Tentatus. 



*Swam.P.T. p.lOl.Tab.III.fig.4. fKirbyand Spence. t4to.iii.36. 



