392 TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS 



slender bodies, long wings, and great legs, which are excessively 

 thin and delicate. The Gnats and the Daddy Long Legs are 

 the types. 



The natural history of the gnats is full of interest, and even 

 the common gnat, Ciilcx pipiens, is well worthy of study ; and 

 we may almost wonder at finding such a bloodthirsty and annoy- 

 ing being in so delicate and fragile a body. The gnat has a very 

 elaborately constructed offensive weapon in its mouth, the struc- 

 tures of which, although excessively delicate, can do their perfo- 

 rating duty perfectly. All the pieces of the mouth are free, and 

 the mandibles are in the shape of sharp blades, toothed on their 

 margins. Gnats abound in marshy districts and where there is 

 stagnant water, for their larvae are aquatic, but cannot live in 

 running streams. They are very fond of such places as water 

 tubs in gardens, and it does not much matter if the water is not 

 quite fresh. 



The male gnats have pretty hairy antennas like little feathens, 

 and the females have antennae which are almost plain ; it is, there- 

 fore, not difficult to distinguish one from the other, and it is rather 

 important, for the females are the blood-suckers. When about to 

 lay their eggs they seek the water, and, with the assistance of their 

 long hind legs, collect and agglutinate them together, and place the 

 little boat-shaped mass upon the surface and leave it to its fate. 

 The larvae are soon hatched, and grow with great rapidity. They 

 swim with great agility, and may be noticed to be constantly as- 

 cending and descending, and rushing about in search of prey. The 

 transparence of their tissues, the delicacy of the hairs which cover 

 them here and there, and the extreme mobility of the segments of 

 their bodies, render them very interesting objects for the microscope. 

 They are almost always seen with their heads downwards and 

 their tails towards the surface of the water. There are two antenna 

 on the head, which is also furnished with hairs that direct the food 

 towards the mouth. The first segment of the body is large and 

 broad, and then the others diminish gradually to the last, which 

 carries tufts of hairs, and the last but one is provided with a 

 tube, the extremity of which is perforated for a respiratory orifice. 

 After the larvae have grown to a certain size they undergo a change 

 of their skin, and become nymphs, which, although active and 



