THE MOSQUITO. 29 



large droning ones, which are found, like the best mangoes 

 only in Mazagon and some other parts of Bombay ; and 

 queer ashy ones, which stand on their heads and bore into 

 you like a bradawl. 



As to its history, all the " promise and potency " of the 

 future mosquito lay at first in a minute egg floating on dirty 

 water. From this came forth an execrable shape, bristling 

 all over with hairs, breathing through its tail, and progress- 

 ing by a series of wriggles, bringing its head and tail together 

 first on one side, and then, with a jerk, on the other. So, 

 by making ends meet, it twisted itself through life for a 

 fortnight or more, feeding day and night on the impurities 

 of the water and growing prodigiously. Then it floated for 

 a while, eating nothing, but meditating a change. When at 

 last internal arrangements were completed, the skin at the 

 back of its head split open, and the mosquito looked out, 

 snuffed the fresh air, drew itself cautiously out of its case, 

 and glided gaily over the water on a boat made of its own 

 skin. Then it sailed away into the air and joined the throng 



" As th'ck and numberless 

 As motes that people the sunbeams, 

 Or likest hovering dreams." 



Then, as dawn began to light up the eastern sky, they 

 swarmed in through every open window, and took shelter 



