114 OBSERVATIONS ON THE LIFE HISTORY, ETC. 



tables. It seems large here but it is only the three- 

 thousandth part of an inch in diameter, and this is magnified 

 460 times. 



It reveals very strikingly the beauty and complexity of some 

 of the things that are ordinarily hidden from our- eyes. What a 

 task a young mother would have if she had to crochet 2oO of 

 these little caps to put on the heads of as many babies. But 

 Mrs. Mosquito never troubles her head about it. She simply 

 does her work gracefully, easily, and perfectly. I cannot say 

 what is the use of these pretty caps. The baby mosquito does 

 not emerge from the egg through them. They are much too 

 small for that process. One thing I notice that if you remove 

 them from the egg-boat and return the boat to the water it 

 cannot maintain its upright position. It will fall on its side or 

 turn bottom up in the water. It hopelessly loses its balance if 

 the caps are removed, probably by reason of the admission of 

 air. My impression is that there is a slight circulation of water 

 through it to aid in developing the contents of the egg. The 

 circular fringe is attached to a thick cushion, and in the centre 

 of the cushion is a hole ; a corresponding aperture is found in 

 the end of the egg, whereon the cap lies, and as circulating 

 movements are easily discernible in the living insect in the 

 inside of the shell, it seems probable that this little cap with the 

 apertures is a provision necessary for the development of the 

 creature within. 



When the little babies inside of the eggs are hatched, which 

 takes place in favourable weather in from 36 to 72 hours, they 

 find the small world within the shell too confined for 

 their aspirations. They get too big for their cloches. So they 

 stir, kick and struggle inside, and in consequence the shell splits 

 at the thickest part of the round end, so that it either falls oH" 

 entirely, or else it opens like a lid to allow the baby to crawl out. 

 Now you see the utility of the eggs being placed with the capped 

 end down on the water. The head of the youngster is always 

 at that end. These little caps are kept moist as well as the 

 round part, and when it splits, the baby has nothing to do but to 

 crawl out into the water. And he does not get drowned. Put 

 a mature mosquito into the water and it may be drowned, but 

 whep it comes from the egg at first it is much more like a fish. 

 It takes to the water and swims about just as naturally as a 

 child breathes air. 



