242 SALMONIA. 



duce maggots, that, after feeding upon the de- 

 composing animal material, gradually change, 

 gain a hard or horny coat, seem as if entombed, 

 and wait in a kind of apparent death or slum- 

 ber, till they are mature for a new birth, when 

 they burst their coatings and appear in the 

 character of novel beings — fitted to inhabit 

 another element. 



Hal. — The history of the birth and me- 

 tamorphosis of all other winged insects is very 

 similar, but with peculiarities dependent upon 

 their organs, wants, and habits. You know 

 the curious details with which we have been 

 furnished by natural historians of bees and 

 ants which live in a kind of society. The ant 

 flies, of which, as I mentioned to you, imita- 

 tions are sometimes used by fishermen, were 

 originally maggots, and became furnished 

 with wings — hot, however, passing through 

 the aurelia state for this last transformation. 



PoiET. — I beg your pardon, but, having 

 lately read an account of these animals in the 

 very interestingbook, called "An Introduction 

 to Entomology," I think I can correct you in 

 one particular; which is, that the maggot of 



