THE GNAT AND TIPULA. 167 



wings, is very curious, and strikes the eye in the 

 most agreeable manner. There is nothing, how- 

 ever, of greater importance to the gnat than her 

 trunk, and that weak implement may justly be 

 deemed one of nature's master-pieces. It is so 

 very small, that the extremity of it can scarcely 

 be discerned through the best microscope that 

 can be procured. That part which is at first obvi- 

 ous to the eye, is nothing but a long scaly sheath 

 under the throat. At near the distance of two- 

 thirds of it there is an aperture, through which 

 the insect darts out four stings, and afterwards 

 retracts them ; one of which, however sharp and 

 active it may be, is no more than the case in 

 which the other three lie concealed, and run in a 

 long groove. The sides of these stings are sharp- 

 ened like two-edged swords ; they are likewise 

 barbed, and have a vast number of cutting teeth 

 towards the point, which turns up like a hook, 

 and is fine beyond expression. When all these 

 darts are stuck into the flesh of animals, some- 

 times one after another, and sometimes all at 

 once, the blood and humours of the adjacent 

 parts must unavoidably be extravasated, upon 

 which a tumour must consequently ensue, the 

 little orifice whereof is closed up by the compres- 

 sion of the external air. When the gnat, by the 

 point of her case, which she makes use of as a 

 tongue, has tasted any fruit, flesh, or juice, that 

 she has found out, if it be a fluid, she sucks it 

 up without playing her darts into it ; but in case 

 she finds the least obstruction by any flesh what- 

 ever, she exerts her strength, and pierces through 



