THE " QUICK- WINGED GNAT " 57 



pushes its way and stands lightly poised in its 

 old pupa skin : 



" The quick-winged Gnat doth make a boat 

 Of his old house wherewith to float, 

 To a new life." 



But take care, little Gnat! This is a 

 dangerous adventure. Should a puff of wind 



HEAD OF MALE GNAT, SHOWING PLUMED ANTENNA 

 AND HARMLESS TRUNK. 



upset the frail boat, you will never rise and 

 dance in the sunshine. No longer are you 

 a water baby, and if you slip you will surely 

 drown, or be snapped up by some prowling 

 monster of the pool. 



But if no such sad fate overtakes it, the 

 new Gnat shakes the folds from its wings, rubs 



