JS8 THE EARWIG, &C. 



burst from their confinement, it begins depositing its' 

 eggs, grows sick, and dies. 



' To this order of insects we may refer the cuckow-spir, 

 or froth-worm, a creature that is found hid in that 

 frothy matter which is frequently seen upon the sur- 

 face of plants and leaves. The body is obtuse, the head 

 large ; it has four wings, and two small eyes. The 

 frothy liquid, in which it is enveloped, is exuded from 

 the body ; and in its first state of existence, it does not 

 acquire the use of wings. 



The water-tipula likewise belongs to this class of in- 

 sects, with a slender body, four feelers, and the same 

 number of legs and wings : it runs with wonderful agi- 

 lity upon the surface of the water, and its motions ap- 

 pear to be assisted by the wings. 



The common water-fly has nothing remarkable in it, 

 except the swimming upon its back instead of its belly; 

 but, as it feeds upon the under parts of those plants 

 which grow upon the surface of the water, we cannot 

 help admiring the ingenuity of the design. 



The water-scorpion is a rapacious animal, and mea- 

 sures near an inch in length : the body is flat and nearly 

 oval ; the head small ; and the feelers appear like legs : 

 it is extremely destructive to the insect creation, and 

 does not live long after it has obtained the use of its 

 wings. 



All ephemeras, of which there are various kinds, are 

 known to be produced from eggs, and, in form, bear 

 some resemblance to a worm ; after this they change 

 into a more perfect state, and are called aurelias ; they 

 then experience a third mutation, and become a beau- 

 tiful fly, about the size of a middling butterfly. 



