THE GNAT AND THE TIPULA. 405 



no longer takes its natural course, but flowing round 

 the egg, the air enters and assists in forming it into 

 a kind of ball. In this confinement the egg teems with 

 motion, and at length the insect is endowed with life, 

 and, bursting the walls which restrained it, when 

 spring returns, prepares for flight. 



OF THE GNAT AND THE TIPULA. 



There are two insects which entirely resemble each 

 other, yet widely differ in their habits and manner of 

 life. Those who have seen the tipula and the larger 

 kind of gnat, have generally thought them one and 

 the same; but the one is a harmless inoffensive insect, 

 whilst the other is the means of depriving us of the 

 comforts of sleep. 



The gnat proceeds from a little worm which is found 

 at the bottom of stagnate pools, but never in a stream ; 

 it is produced from eggs w r hich flow upon the surface 

 of the water, but which are attached to a fine thread 

 which is fastened beneath. After remaining some time 

 in a reptile situation, they become transformed into a 

 nymph-like state, and after dislodging themselves from 

 the skin that covers them, sallies forth into the air to 

 commit deDredations upon mankind. 



The trunk of this little insect is placed under its 

 throat, and is a long scaly sheath, which encloses four 

 stings that are darted into any body they may wish to 

 penetrate, and serve as conductors for the blood or 

 juice, and, when examined through the nicest micro- 

 scope, the points are so fine as scarcely to be discerned. 

 The head of the gnat is adorned with a plume of fea- 

 thers ; and the whole body appears to be invested with 

 scales and hair, which prevent it from being injured 

 either by dust or rain. 



dd 3 



