1 68 THOSE OTHER ANIMALS. 



young couple strolling through a lane as the shades of 

 evening are falling are a spectacle specially attractive to 

 gnats. They will frequently on such occasions form them- 

 selves into filmy clouds, rising and falling in rhythmical 

 measure, expressive of satisfaction and good-will. 



The summer evening gnat must not be confused with 

 a cousin of his which occasionally infests low-lying and 

 marshy neighbourhoods. This bears both in point of 

 size, appearance, and habits, a much closer relation to the 

 mosquito than to the gnat, and it may, indeed, be termed 

 the English mosquito. It is many times larger than the 

 gnat which is the subject of our remarks, has dark limbs 

 and body, a stinging proboscis, and a bare head. The gnat 

 is scarce more substantial than a cobweb, and has upon 

 its head a lovely plume. It is silent, or, at least, if it 

 utters a sound, its vibrations are too rapid for the ears of 

 man to detect. 



The life of the gnat, although short, would seem to be 

 more full of pleasure and enjoyment than that of any other 

 creature. Other insects that consort together in large 

 numbers do so for mutual convenience or protection. Mul- 

 titudes are needed for the various work of the bee, wasp, 

 and ant cities. Caterpillar communities dwell together, 

 partly because they were born so, but probably more be- 

 cause the web, their common work, is a protection against 

 their enemies, and specially against their most deadly foe, 

 the ichneumon. The aphis feed crowded in close herds, 

 but their power of locomotion is so small that they live 

 and die where they were born. Gnats, however, congregate 

 simply to enjoy the companionship of their friends. Their 

 gatherings are great balls and dances. Flying in a soft 



