26 



INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. 



tioned by the Abbe Preaux, of a four-winged fly, 

 called by him, JMouche bcdiste, which, when caught, 

 jets out its eggs at intervals, as if by the jerk of a 

 spring.* 



The apparent analogy, however^ between these in- 



A, Plaints of Sphcernhohis, natural size. B, magnified view. 

 C, sectional view, with the seed just previous to pnjection. D, 

 the seed in the act of projection. E. a plant immediately after 

 projection ; a, the seed ; 6 6, a line indicating its course. 



* Diet. Classique d'Hist. Nat., Art. Mouches Balistes. 

 The words are ' Insecte a quatre ailes, quiiance ses oeufs a di- 

 verges reprises, et comme par unressort, lorsqu^on le saisit.' 



