72 PROBOSCIS OF BLOW-FLY 



Our little fly, in her swiftest flight, will in 

 the same space of time go more than the 

 third of a mile. Now, compare the difference 

 of the size of the two animals (ten millions 

 of the fly would hardly counterpoise one 

 racer), and how wonderful will the velocity 

 of this minute creature appear! Did the fly 

 equal the racehorse in size, and retain its 

 present powers in the ratio of its magnitude, 

 it would traverse the globe with the rapidity 

 of lightning/ 



Proboscis of Blow-fly. 



Perhaps no object in insect life has been 

 photographed more frequently, yet it may be 

 said with truthfulness that no microscopist has 

 ever succeeded in either exhausting or in depict- 

 ing all its detail. The proboscis of the blow-fly 

 or that of the house-fly defies the highest am- 

 plification and still reserves to itself man} 7 

 mysteries never seen by the microscopist. It 

 is more complicated than a locomotive, and 

 more highly finished than a costly gold watch. 



