26 



INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. 



tioned by the Abbe Preaiix, of a four-winp^fHl fly, 

 called by him Mouche baliste, which, when caug-ht, 

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

 spring*. 



Tlie apparent analogy, however, between these in- 





A, Plants of Splicer oholus, natural size. B, magnified view. C, sec- 

 tional view, with the seed just previous to projection. D, the seed in 

 the act of projection. E, a plant immediately after projection; a, the 

 seed; h h, a line indicating its course. 



* Diet. Classique rVHist. Nat., Art. Mouchf.s B.^mstks. 

 The words are " Insecte a quatre ailes, qui lance ses ceufs a 

 diversos reprises, et commc par un lessort, lorsqu'on le satsit.^' 



