MUSQUETO. 63 



Fig. 45. Fig. 46. O f t he lobster, that is, by 



alte mat e ly contracting and 

 expanding the body, and 

 striking the fluid with its 

 fins and tail, as shown by 

 Fig. 46. 



In this stage of its progress, it takes no food, hav- 

 ing neither mouth nor organs bf digestion ; but a 

 plentiful supply of air seems to be indispensable, and 

 hence it floats on the surface of the water, and only 

 descends when disturbed. In every stagnant pool, 

 thousands of them may be seen, at the proper season, in 

 this state of repose. Their respiratory organs are two 

 ear-like processes shown by the adjoining figures, and 

 these are kept above the surface of the water until 

 another change is about to ensue. 



Musqueto leaving the water. When the Musqueto is 

 about to emerge, and to take the station and form of a 

 perfect being, it stretches out its body at full length on 

 the surface of the water, and then by some secret 

 mechanism, puffs up its skin, so as to split it open at the 

 head. As soon as this fissure is sufficiently large for the 

 purpose, the insect, in perfect form, appears. And, 

 now the condition of the little adventurer is critical, and 

 perilous in the extreme, for, from being an aquatic, it 

 is suddenly transformed into an air-breather ; and after 

 having spent all his past life as a sailor, he is in a twink- 

 ling turned landsman, perhaps far from the shore, and 

 having no other boat but his own skin, with neither oar 

 nor sail, for he has no use of either leg or wing. If at 

 this juncture a little breeze comes on, it proves a most 

 dreadful hurricane to the poor animal, for if a drop of 

 Fig. 47 water gets into the case, which has 



now become a canoe, it inevitably 

 sinks and carries the insect down 

 with it. This hazardous situation is 

 shown by Fig. 47, which exhibits a 

 , magnified picture of the Musqueto 

 1 just taking its departure into its new 

 "element. Reaumur, who saw eve- 

 ry thing which nature exhibits with respect to this insect, 



