THE EGG-RAFT OF THE GNAT. 13 



that it would be difficult to make them stand up- 

 right on a solid surface ; far more so then, on the 

 water. A human ship-builder would be probably 

 sorely puzzled to find out how to overcome these 

 difficulties, and of such materials how to construct 

 a floating raft ; nay, a raft which cannot by any 

 means be made to sink. The insect has, however, 

 been instructed by a Greater and Wiser than man, 

 and she solves the problem in a manner well calcu- 

 lated to excite our admiration and praise. Fixing 

 herself by her four front legs upon a leaf or twig 

 floating on the surface of the water, she stretches 

 out behind her the two hind legs, and crosses them 

 over one another somewhat in this manner y. In 

 the triangular space thus formed she purposes to 

 construct her boat of eggs. Now, all things being 

 ready, just where the crossed legs meet she places 

 her first egg, which is covered over with a thick 

 glue. By the side of this she places another, and 

 again another, so that the three are, by means of 

 the glue which covers them, united together, and 

 will, consequently, preserve the upright position, 

 as there is now a sufficiently broad base of support 

 for them to rest upon. To these she diligently 

 adds egg to egg until she has sufficiently formed 



