166 EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE. 



far and wide from the new-born female. Surely the ways 

 of God in creation are " past finding out." 



The male Gnat presents in its antennas a pair of plumes 

 of equal beauty, but of a totally different character. 

 The pattern here is one of exceeding lightness and grace, 

 as you may see in this specimen. Each antenna is essen- 

 tially a very slender cylindrical stem of many joints (about 

 fourteen) ; at each joint springs out a whorl of fine hairs 

 of great length and delicacy, which radiate in various 

 directions (not, however, forming a complete circle), 

 curving upward like the outline of a saucer, supposing 

 the stem to be inserted into its centre. The length of 

 these hairs is so great, that the diameter of their sweep 

 equals, if it does not exceed, the whole length of the 

 antenna. 



In the tribe of two- winged insects, which we term par 

 excellence Flies (MuscadcB), the antennae are of peculiar 

 structure. The common House-fly shall give us a good 

 example. Here, in front of the head, is a shell-like con- 

 cavity, divided into two by a central ridge. Just at the 

 summit of this project the two antennas, originating close 

 together, and diverging as they proceed. Each antenna 

 consists of three joints, of which the first is very minute, 

 the second is a reversed cone, and the third, which is 

 large, thick, and ovate, is bent abruptly downwards imme- 

 diately in front of the concavity. From the upper part 

 of this third joint projects obliquely a stiff bristle or style, 

 which tapers to a fine point. It is densely hairy through- 

 out ; and is moreover beset with longer hairs, on two oppo- 

 site sides, which decrease regularly in length from the base, 

 making a wide and pointed plume. 



Such are a few examples of what are presumed to be 

 the ears of Insects ; let us now turn our attention to their 

 eyes. And we can scarcely select a more brilliant, or a 

 larger example, than is presented by this fine Dragon-fly 

 (jEshna), which I just now caught as it was hawking to 



