THE GNAT. 171 



and stands upon the skin it has quitted, which serves as 

 a little raft until it has attained sufficient strength to fly. 

 This is the most critical moment of the gnat's existence ; 

 the fluid in which it has lately existed would now be fatal 

 to it, and the tiniest ripple caused by a breath of wind, or 

 the passage close by of a fish or water beetle, before the 

 gnat has gained strength to fly, would upset the boat and 

 drown its occupant. 



Man has not been able to solve the problem whether 

 thought as well as life is continuous during the three stages 

 of existence of the gnat, or, indeed, in those of any other 

 insect; and knows not whether the gnat has any remem- 

 brance of the very different existence it passed beneath the 

 surface of the water over which, in its perfect state, it 

 delights to disport itself. The fact that all insects deposit 

 their eggs in situations unsuitable for their own existence, 

 but suitable for that of the larvae, is no proof for or against 

 the theory, since it may be the result of blind instinct only. 



Whether man will ever be able to place himself sufficiently 

 en rapport with the lower creation as to be able to solve 

 this and many other problems must be left to future ages 

 to determine. So far, "able as he is to acquire with more or 

 less difficulty the languages of all other varieties of man, he 

 has failed signally in comprehending that of even the birds 

 and animals with whom he is most in contact. The dog and 

 the horse are in this respect distinctly his superior, and the 

 former, when admitted to close companionship, unquestion- 

 ably understands at least the gist of his master's words. As 

 it is not the custom of the gnat to waste its strength by 

 travelling ahead in a straight line, we have no means of 

 determining the actual rate of speed at which it can fly. 



