Twelfth Report of the State Entomologist 335 



•excess of lateral deviation, either from defective instinct or from a current of 

 air, is at once fatal. The float — a mere transparent film — with its occupant, 

 is thrown upon its side ; the wings are wet and no longer serviceable, 

 and the new life just opening, is ended. This fatality is common — in- 

 deed it is represented as the rule — the contrary, the exception. Each 

 such occurrence, although a tragedy, need not evoke our sympathy 

 although so oft repeated. Food is thereby furnished fishes and other liv- 

 ing forms, and there will always be quite as many mosquitoes left as are 

 required for sanitary uses. 



With those that are so fortunate as to escape this perilous evolution, a 

 short time suffices for the expansion of their wings through the entrance 

 into their veins of air and blood, and to dry and fit them for flight. 

 Just the manner in which the pupal-case is abandoned, is not definitely 

 known ; it may be with the feet resting upon its edge ; or it may be as repre- 

 sented in some illustrations, that, carefully preserving its equilibrium, the in- 

 sect bends forward and rests with its fore-legs on the water — a moment 

 passed, perhaps, in admiration of the delicate form mirrored therein — when 

 the wings are spread, and with their rapid vibration of five hundred beats a 

 second emitting music though familiar yet not sweet to human ears — it 

 launches forth into its new element, in quest, as it may be, of nectar, or 

 of blood. 



The mosquito is gone ! Are you not glad, for with her flight ends my 

 paper. 



[Those who would like to consult some recent publications and studies 

 upon this interesting insect are referred to the following: 



Howard: in Bull. 4 N. Ser., U. S. Dept. AgricuL, Division of Entomo- 

 logy, 1896, pp. 9-24, figs. 1-4. 



Lugger: 2nd Rept. Entomol. St. Exper. Stat. Minn., 1896, pp. 182-195, 

 figs. 152-158. 



OsBORN : Bull. 5 N. Ser.jU. S. Dept. AgricuL, Division of Entomology, 

 1896, pp. 25-30, figs. I, 2.] 



