300 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



had there been a hook attached to the fusee the trout 

 would have had a bad time of it. We were one day 

 fishing on the Kennet ; there was a great rise of the pale- 

 blue dun, which the trout were taking eagerly. They 

 would not look at the artificial similar, but at once, and 

 greedily, took a small imitation of the March brown (which 

 was not on the water) ; and, without moving ten yards, we 

 landed five brace of fish, most of which we had seen rising 

 at the blue dun. 



Insects pass through four metamorphoses during their 

 life- 

 First, the Egg state, which is a non-active state. 

 Second, the Larva state. This term of larva, from the 

 Latin word signifying a mask, was given by Linnaeus, 

 because he considered that the real insect when in this 

 form was masked ; this name is also given to caterpillars, 

 grubs, and maggots, which latter are generally called 

 "gentils" or "gentles," a very ancient name. Tusser 

 says : 



" Rewerd not thy sheep when ye take off his cote 

 With twitches and patches as brode as a grote ; 

 Let not such ungentleness happen to thine, 

 Least fly with her gentils do make it to pine." 



During this second state the larvae are very voracious, 

 cast their skins several times, and live for a long or short 

 period some only for a few days, others for weeks, months, 

 or even years. When they cease eating they generally 

 fix themselves in a secure place, their skin separates once 

 more and discloses an oblong body, and they now enter the 

 third (Pupa or Chrysalis) state, which may be divided into 



(a.) That which differs but slightly from the larva state, 

 but which has a kind of rudimentary wing. These are 

 not only extremely active, but very voracious, as the 

 dragon-flies, &c. 



(b.) That which is motionless and quite inactive, often 

 surrounded with a hard case, as the cocoon or chrysalis 

 of butterflies, moths, &c. 



This state may continue, as said above, for long or short 

 periods, and then the fourth or last state is entered viz., 



