86 LIVING CREATURES. 



within, the pupa shell bursts open on the back and 

 forms a boat or raft. The mosquito puts out its head, 

 then one pair of legs after another, until all are out, 

 and the wings are free though wet. Now it balances 

 itself on its tail, waiting for the legs and wings to 

 grow strong and dry enough for use. This is a dan- 

 gerous moment. A gust of wind or a drop of rain 

 will cause a shipwreck. For this reason mosquitoes 

 are only brought forth in still or stagnant waters. 



PART 2. 



WHEN the voyage of infancy is successfully passed, 

 the complete mosquitoes begin life on the wing. The 

 males, during a very short life, remain in the woods 

 and marshes. The females alone do the biting, and 

 they at once set out to find victims that have blood. 

 Whether they can see in the dark, or can scent their 

 prey afar off, it is not certain. Something enables 

 them to find human habitations, and the sleeping in- 

 mates whom they serenade. 



The beak that extends out in front of the head is a 

 case of piercing instruments which our burglar brings 

 with her. They are the mouth-parts of the mosquito, 

 and are very different from the mouth-organs of the 

 house fly. When not in use, they are laid close to- 

 gether, and are sheathed by the under lip. 



In Figure 10 appears the head of the mosquito 

 with its compound eyes. Curving out -from the fore- 

 head, to right and left, are the antennae, or principal 

 feelers (a). Below these is the upper lip (ul) which 

 has a groove running its full length to receive the 



