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A HISTORY OP 



CHAPTER CLXXXIII. 



OF THE EPHEMERA. 



THE last insect we shall add to the second 

 order, is the Ephemera; which though not 

 strictly belonging to it, yet seems more pro- 

 perly 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 

 duration extends but to a day, seems at first 

 surprising; 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 together. 



All ephemeras, of which there are various 

 kinds, are produced from the egg in the 

 form of worms ; from whence they change 

 into a more perfect form ; namely, that of 

 aurelias, which is a kind of middle state be- 

 tween a worm and a fly ; and from thence 

 they take their last mutation, which is into a 

 beautiful fly, of longer or shorter duration, 

 according to its kind. 



The ephemera, in its fly state, is a very 

 beautiful winged insect, and has a strong 

 similitude to the butterfly, both from its shape 

 and its wings. It is -about the size of a 

 middling butterfly ; but its wings differ in not 

 being covered with the painted dust with 

 which those of butterflies are adorned, and 

 rendered opake, for they are very transparent 

 and tery thin. These insects have four 

 wings, the uppermost of which are much the 

 largest: when the insect is at rest, it gene- 

 rally lays its wings one over the other, on the 

 back. The body is long, being formed of 

 six rings, these are larger at the origin than 

 near the extremity; and from this a tail pro- 

 ceeds, that is longer than all the rest of the 

 fly, and consists sometimes of three threads 

 of an equal length, or sometimes of two long 

 and one short. To acquire this beautiful 



form, the insect has been obliged to undergo 

 several transmutations; but its glory is very 

 short-lived, for the hour of its perfection is 

 the hour of its death ; and it seems scarcely 

 introduced to pleasure, when it is obliged to 

 part with life. 



The reptile that is to become a fly, and 

 that is granted so long a term, when compared 

 to its latter duration, is an inhabitant of the 

 water, and bears a very strong resemblance 

 to fishes, in many particulars ; having gills 

 by which it breaths at the bottom, and also 

 the tapering form of aquatic animals. These 

 insects have six scaly legs, fixed on their 

 corselet. Their head is triangular: the eyes 

 are placed forward, and may be distinguish- 

 ed by their largeness and colour. The mouth 

 is furnished with teeth ; and the body con- 

 sists of six rings; that next the corselet being 

 largest, but growing less and less to the end : 

 the last ring is the shortest, from which the, 

 three threads proceed, which are as long 

 as the whole body. Thus we see that the 

 reptile bears a very strong resemblance to 

 the fly ; and only Fequires wings, to be very 

 near its perfection. 



As there are several kinds of this animal, 

 their aurelias are consequently of different 

 colours ; some yellow, some brown, and some 

 cream-coloured. Some of these also bore 

 themselves cells at the bottom of the water, 

 from which they never stir out, but feed upon 

 the mud composing the walls of their habita- 

 tion, in contented captivity; others, on the 

 contrary, range about, go from the bottom to 

 the surface, swim between two waters, quit 

 that element, entirely to feed upon plants by 

 the river side, and then return to their favou- 

 rite element, for safety and protection. 



The reptile, however, though it lives two 

 or three years, offers but little, in its long 

 duration, to excite curiosity : it is hid at the 

 bottom of the water, and feeds almost wholly 

 within its narrow habitation. The most 



