WORM IN A GNAT. 311 



abled perhaps to remove so much as there is of 

 mystery still enveloping the whole subject. 



WORM IN A GNAT. 



EVEN the smaller insects do not appear exempt 

 from worms, which sometimes are of such a size, 

 compared with that of the species they infest, as 

 to occupy almost the entire cavity of the abdomen. 

 I once caught a gnat* by the side of a stream, 

 which, shortly after it had been secured, gave 

 birth, from between the segments of the abdomen, 

 to a worm more than an inch in length. This 

 worm was thicker than the thread -worms noticed 

 in the last article : when it was wholly out of its 

 prison, the abdomen of the gnat collapsed like an 

 empty glove. 



VINEGAR EEL.f 



THE little eels found occasionally in vinegar are 

 well known. Some persons suppose that they are 

 to be found at all times in that liquid, when 

 sought for with the microscope. This, however, 

 is not the case. It is only vinegar, which has 

 been kept some time, and which is become bad, 

 that gives birth to them. What is more, they will 

 not live long in good vinegar. This I ascertained 



* Chironomus plumosus of Meigen, or a nearly allied species. 

 f Vibrio anguillulu, Mull.? V. uceti of some authors. 



