EVEKLXGS AT THE JIICEOSCOPE. 



CHAPTER Y. 



rXSECTS : WIXGS A^TD their APPE^^)AGES. 



I PROPOSE now to reveal to you some of tlie microscopic 

 marvels of tlie insect world ; a race vastly more popu- 

 lous tlian all of the otlier animate tribes put together ; 

 for the most part so minute as to be peculiarly suitable 

 subjects for our present investigations, and so furnished 

 with elaborate contrivances and exquisite pieces of 

 mechanism, as to elevate our thoughts at every turn 

 to the majesty of the Divine wisdom displayed in the 

 most minute of Ilis creatures. Let us beirin with their 



O 



wings. 



The most perfect fliers in existence are Insects. 

 The swallow and the humming-bird are powerful on 

 the wing, and rapid ; but neither these nor any other 

 "winged fowl" can be compared with many of the 

 filmy-winged Insects. The common House-fly, for 

 example, will remain for hours together floating in 

 the air beneath the ceilings of our dwelling-rooms, hov- 

 ering and dancing from side to side, without effort 

 and without fatigue. It has been calculated that in 

 its ordinary flight the House-fly makes about 600 

 Btrokes with its wiuirs everv second, and that it is carried 

 through the air a distance of five feet during that brief 

 period. But, if alarmed, the velocity can be increased 

 six or seven-fold, as every one must have observed, so 



