' /: 



46 THE INSECT WOELD. 



surface of the water. But one sees with pleasure that there is air 

 enough to carry the gnat along quickly ; it is carried from side to 

 side ; it makes different voyages in the bucket in which it is borne. 

 Though it is only a sort of boat, or rather mast, because its wings 

 and legs are fixed close to its body, it is perhaps, in proportion to 

 the size of its boat, a larger sail than one would dare to put on a 

 real vessel ; one cannot help fearing that the little boat will capsize. 

 * * * As soon as the boat is capsized, as soon as the gnat is 

 laid "on the surface of the water, there is no chance left for it. 

 I have sometimes seen the water covered with gnats which had 

 perished thus as soon as they were born. It is, however, still 

 more extraordinary that the gnat is able to finish its operations. 

 Happily they do not last long ; all dangers may be passed over in 

 a minute. 



" The gnat, after raising itself perpendicularly, draws its two 

 front legs from the sheath, and brings them forward. It then 

 draws out the two next. It now no longer tries to maintain 

 its uneasy position, but leans towards the water ; gets near it, and 

 places its feet upon it ; the water is sufficiently firm and solid 

 support for them, and is able to bear them, although burdened 

 with the insect's body. As soon as the insect is thus on the 

 water it is in safety ; its wings are unfolded and dried, which is 

 done sooner than it takes to tell it ; at length the gnat is in a 

 position to use them, and it is soon seen to fly away, particularly 

 if one tries to catch it." 



One more word about the gnat, whose life is full of such 

 interesting details. 



The reader will perhaps not feel much pleasure in learning that 

 the fecundity of these insects is extraordinary. Many generations 

 are born in a single year, each generation requiring only three 

 weeks or a month to arrive at a condition to bring forth a new 



generation. Thus, the number of gnats 

 which comes into existence in the 

 course of a year is something fearful. 

 Only a few days after the pupae in 



Fie. 31. Eggs of the Gnat, magnified. , , , . , 



a bucket are transformed into gnats, 



eggs which have been left by the females may be observed floating 

 on the surface of the water in little clusters. 



