LARVA OF THE MAY-FLY. 173 



enthusiastic expressions used by Swammerdam, 

 in speaking of the visible manifestation of the skill 

 of God in this insect. The fact of an insect 

 coming to the surface for air, and stealing away a 

 portion, then diving down again into the waters, is 

 not uncommon in insect history, although few are 

 possessed of so elegant a contrivance for effecting 

 it as the larva in question. 



We must pass on to mention an instance or 

 two of larvae which, from the peculiarity of their 

 respiration, come under the second of our divisions, 

 that is, they live in the water, and do not breathe 

 air, but obtain the gas necessary for their respira- 

 tion from the water, which holds it in a state of 

 solution. We shall first speak of the larva of the 

 common May-fly, the perfect insect of which is so 

 well known to, and highly prized by, anglers, 

 under the various names of " duns" and "drakes," 

 than which in some streams no insect that flies is 

 a better bait to the unwary fish. Should the 

 reader wish to examine them for himself, they 

 may be found in May or June, hiding themselves 

 during the day in the mud, or underneath stones, 

 or in little holes in the banks, or taking a sub- 

 aqueous tour upon the bed of the brook, while the 



