THE GNAT. 



HAD the gnat been endowed with as great a power 

 of making itself obnoxious as its first cousin the 

 mosquito, it would have been the subject of anxious inquiry 

 and investigation by man. As it is, it attracts but slight 

 attention, and lives and dies in undisturbed obscurity. In 

 this respect it closely resembles what are called the working 

 classes among man. The noisy spouter, the obnoxious 

 demagogue, the troublesome striker attract attention ; the 

 vast patient herd live and die almost unnoticed. There 

 is no reason for supposing, however, that the gnat takes the 

 neglect of man to heart, fond as he undoubtedly is of man's 

 companionship. In this respect he stands almost, if not 

 quite alone among created things, for the attentions paid 

 to man by the flea, the bug, and the mosquito are strictly 

 selfish. Gnats, however, appear to be purely disinterested 

 in their attentions, and to regard the doings of man with 

 pleased and curious interest. They will attend him in 

 his walks, flying in a cloud over his head or a pace or 

 two in front of him ; while their interest in him when 

 engaged in fishing, sketching, or other pursuits is un- 

 bounded. They do not, like the midge, interfere with him 

 in any other way, but keep at a respectful distance. A 



