34 The Microscope. 



In the wasp's wings, represented at fig. 8, we 

 have to admire their evident adaptation to the in- 

 sect's mode of life, as well as their beauty. They are 

 not so carefully stowed away as those of the earwig or 

 beetle, as it wants to fly so much more frequently. Yet 

 wasps often go into the ground and bees (whose wings 

 much resemble those of wasps) creep into very small 

 flowers therefore a pair of large broad wings would 

 be in their way. The contrivance they are supplied 

 with is very curious. They have four wings, two on 

 each side, and the upper wings fold once, lengthwise 

 (fig. 7), when the insect walks, but when it prepares 

 to fly, it straightens this wing by the act of raising 

 it, and the same action hooks the lower wing to it 

 firmly, giving it all the force of a single broad wing. 

 Fig. 8 represents the two wings thus joined, and 

 slightly magnified. To show the minute hooks which 

 are on the top edge of the lower wing (fig. 9, A,) I 

 must take my specimen in which the wings are pre- 

 pared separated from each other, and will magnify 

 them sixty diameters. The part of the wing on which 

 the hooks are placed is very small, not more than 

 one-twentieth of an inch in length. They clasp 

 firmly over a projecting ledge on the upper wing 

 (fig. 9, B). This is best understood by observing 

 a preparation (as in fig. 8), where the wings are 

 mounted ready clasped, and examining them on both 

 sides. 



The dragon-fly's wings, which never require to be 

 folded up or reduced in size, are formed for strength 

 and lightness, and evidently for beauty too. The 



