44 HISTORY OF 



after being ejected by the female; but, beside 

 that this doctrine is exploded even from the 

 history of fishes, it is certain that the males have 

 not time for this operation, as the eggs drop to 

 the bottom the instant they are laid on the water. 

 Reaumur is of opinion that they copulate, but 

 that the act bears a proportion in shortness to 

 the small duration of their lives, and conse- 

 quently must be so soon performed as to be 

 scarcely visible. This, however, is at best forc- 

 ing a theory ; and it is probable, that as there 

 are many insects known to breed without any im- 

 pregnation from the male, as we have already 

 seen in muscles and oysters, and shall hereafter 

 see in the gnat, and a species of the beetle, so 

 the ephemera may be of this number. Be this 

 as it may, the females are in such haste to depo- 

 sit their eggs, that multitudes of them fall to the 

 ground, but the greatest part are laid in the wa- 

 ter. As they flutter upon the surface, two clus- 

 ters are seen issuing from the extremity of their 

 bodies, each containing about three hundred and 

 fifty eggs, which make seven hundred in all. 

 Thus, of all insects, this appears to be the most 

 prolific ; and it would seem that there was a ne- 

 cessity for such a supply, as in its reptile state 

 it is the favourite food of every kind of fresh wa- 

 ter fish. It is in vain that these little animals 

 form galleries at the bottom of the river, from 

 whence they seldom remove ; many kinds of fish 

 break in upon their retreats, and thin their num- 

 bers. For this reason, fishermen are careful to 

 provide themselves with these insects, as the 



