36 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



to know the wonders of Nature. During a period in its life the 

 observer, forgetting that it will at some time annoy him, feels the 

 greatest interest in its life- history." 



As this is the case, let us explain the history of these insects, 

 which excite so much interest. The illustrious naturalist we have 

 just mentioned will be our guide. 



The body of the gnat is long and cylindrical. When in a state 

 of repose one of its wings is crossed over the other. They present 

 a charming appearance when seen through a microscope, their 

 nervures, as well as their edges, being completely covered with scales, 



Fig. 21.— Antennse of Gnat, magnified. 



Fig. 22. — Head of Gnat, magnified. 



shaped like oblong plates and finely striated longitudinally. These 

 scales are also found on all the segments of the body. 



The antenn?e of the gnat, particularly those of the male, have a 

 fine feathery appearance (Fig. 21). 



Their eyes, covered with network, are so large that they cover 

 nearly the whole of the head. Some have eyes of a brilliant green 

 colour, but looked at in certain lights they appear red. Fig. 22 

 shows the head of, the gnat with its two eyes, its antenn?e, and trunk. 



The instrument which the gnat employs for puncturing the skin, 

 and which is called the trunk (Fig. 23), is well worthy of our atten- 

 tion. That which is generally seen is only the case of those instru- 

 ments which are intended to pierce our skin and suck our blood, and 

 in which they are held, as lancets and other instruments are held in 

 a surgeon's case. The case (Fig. 24) is cylindrical, covered with 

 scales, and terminates in a small knob. Split from end to end that 



