116 ANIMAL PARASITES AND MESSMATES. 



pipiens), those brilliant children of the air, with fine 

 and slender claws, and delicate membranaceous wings, 

 and wearing on their heads feathery antennaG of rare 

 elegance. They are known in the Old as well as in the 

 New World, and in southern regions it is necessary to 

 guard against their nightly attacks by musquito curtains. 

 In the Antilles they bear the name of Marmgouins, and 

 in hot countries they are generally known as musquitoes. 

 They are also called gnats, midges, black-flies, zanzare, 

 &c., in different localities, but as may be supposed, these 

 names do not always designate the same insect. The 

 musquitoes of the French colonies are often Slmulia. 

 At Madagascar and the Isle of France is found the gnat 

 known by the name of Big aye. 



In Davis's Straits, in lat. 72^ N., Dr. Bessels, on 

 board the Polaris, was obliged to interrupt his observa- 

 tions on account of these insects. A great number of 

 them have been seen up to the 81st degree of latitude. 

 Besides gnats, there were also found Chironomi, Corethrsej 

 and Trichocerse. As Dr. Bessels was able to save from 

 the Polaris some small collections of insects, we shall 

 soon know the names of the species which live in these 

 high latitudes. It is said that the Esquimaux and 

 the Lapps cover their skin with a coating of grease, not 

 only to lessen the effect of the cold, but to defend them- 

 selves from the stings of gnats. 



" The gnat is a plague from June till the first frosts,'* 

 says Mons. Thoulet, speaking of his abode among the 

 Chippeways. " It renders the country almost uninhabit- 

 able; and one is so exhausted by this suffering, which 

 does not cease by night or by day, and by the loss of 

 blood through their bites, that we manage to get through 



