86 THE FLY. 



the whole object of its Hfe was only to eat, as indeed is probably 

 the case, whilst it fulfils the office of scavenger. It now changes 

 into the third or pupa state ; in which condition it eats nothing, 

 is motionless, and apparently without life. But a wonderful 

 transformation is going on inside the hard fusiform case. A 

 body highly organised is being formed ; and presently when the 

 case opens there appears, instead of a repulsive maggot, a fly 

 symmetrically formed, having wings and all appliances exquisitely 

 adapted for its new life — 



" Startling the eye 

 With unexpected beauty." 



Say, shall we welcome it ? Shall we say with one enthusiast — 



" Busy, curious, thirsty fly, 

 Drink with me, and drink as I " ? 



Curious truly, thirsty as we all know, and busy as some of us know 

 only too well, when we take an afternoon's nap in the summer. It 

 may be added that it is also of a somewhat frolicsome humour. 



There is an anecdote told which well illustrates these traits of 

 our little friend, and may be given here, though probably known to 

 some of our readers. An artist relates that while giving a lesson 

 on miniature painting he was called out of the room just as he had 

 finished the eye. Greatly to his surprise, on his return, the eye 

 was gone. He looked at the pupil's little brother, who had been 

 left alone in the room, but forbearing to find fault, he painted in 

 the eye again. He had scarcely finished it, when he was again 

 called away. Upon his return a second timCj the eye was nearly 

 gone. He did not hesitate now to accuse the boy of the deed, 

 who indignantly denied it. But the eye was gone ; and the ques- 

 tion, "Who took it away ? " still remained unanswered. Presently, 

 turning to the miniature^ the real culprit was found to be a fly, 

 who, curious and thirsty, had returned to finish his repast, and 

 was sucking what remained of the eye. 



A glance at a Fly shows it to be divided into three parts, viz., 

 the head, thorax, and abdomen, and to have six legs and two wings. 

 This is all very evident. But what is not so easy — indeed not at 

 all easy — is to make out the segments of the body. These are said 

 to be thirteen in number, of which the head is one. Our difficulty 



