THE EPHEMERA. 39 



The water scorpions live in the water by day, 

 out of which they rise in the dusk of the evening 

 into the air, and so flying from place to place, 

 often betake themselves in quest of food to other 

 waters. The insect, before its wings are grown, 

 remains in the place where it was produced ; but 

 when come to its state of perfection, sallies forth 

 in search of a companion of the other sex, in 

 order to continue its noxious posterity. 



CHAPTER VI. 



OF THE EPHEMERA. 



THE last insect we shall add to the second order, 

 is the Ephemera ; which, though not strictly be- 

 longing to it, yet seems more properly referred to 

 this rank than any other. Indeed, we must not 

 attend to the rigour of method in a history where 

 nature seems to take delight to sport in variety. 



That there should be a tribe of flies whose du- 

 ration extends but to a day, seems at first surpris- 

 ing ; but the wonder will increase when we are 

 told, that some of this kind seem to be born and 

 to die in the space of a single hour. The reptile, 

 however, from which they are bred, is by no 

 means so short-lived ; but is sometimes seen to 

 live two years, and many times three years to- 

 gether. 



All ephemeras, of which there are various 

 kinds, are produced from the egg, in the form of 



