NET WINGS. 59 



Their antennae simple, slender, 

 Long and very manyjoiated ; 

 And their feet are all threejointed. 



Dayflies, or Ephemerina, 

 Form a wellknown tribe or order, 

 Having small and short antennae, 

 Eather large and netlike fore wings, 

 Very small and netlike hind wings. 

 When these pretty flies are resting 

 AU the wings are pointed upwards. 

 Back to back, appressed together. 

 They have rather slender bodies. 

 Never nipped in at the middle ; 

 Very long and tliin tail bristles, 

 Two and sometimes three in number ; 

 Fore legs very long and slender. 

 And their feet are all fivejoiuted. 

 'Tis a pleasant sight at even 

 To observe the Dayflies dancing 

 Over river, over meadow ; 

 'Tis the choral dance of poets, 

 'Tis the poetry of motion : 

 Pinions briskly moved whUe lising, 

 Stretched out motionless while floating, 

 Like the lightest feather, downwards. 

 Dayfly larvae are aquatic, 

 Living, feeding in the water. 

 Breathing by their lungs external ; 



