CH. XIV.] EPHEMERA OR MAYFLY. 



203 



times found an apt emblem of human life in the his- 

 tory of this " being of a day." To some, indeed, 

 even this short length of perfect life is not allowed, 

 since their existence does not extend beyond a few 

 hours, which is sufficiently long to enable the insect 

 to soar from the waters into the air, to perpetuate 

 its kind and die. 



The ephemera or Mayfly, however, undergoes the 

 same number of metamorphoses as the rest of in- 

 sects. As worm and nymph it is an inhabitant of 

 the waters, whel-e it acquires its growth so slowly, 

 that with regard to the length of these portions of 

 its life, it has been at least as well treated as the 

 rest of insects. Swammerdam asserts that the 

 ephemerae continue two or three years in their larva 

 and pupae states ; and that it is only when they have 

 attained to the utmost perfection of which their 

 organization is susceptible that they so speedily 

 perish. 



As long as the insect is an inhabitant of the 

 Fig. 1. 



Fig. 2. 



