156 CONVERSATIONS ON 



" She then goes on adding eggs, which are 

 all put in the water with their ends down- 

 wards, until she has got her boat half-finished ; 

 she then uncrosses her legs, and just keeps 

 one on each side of the boat as she goes on, 

 until she has completed it." 



" And how many eggs, Uncle Philip, will 

 she put together in this way ?" 



" From two hundred and fifty to three hun- 

 dred and fifty, and when all are laid they 

 make quite a good boat, sharp, and raised at 

 both ends, and floating on the water. Then 

 the mother gnat leaves it. Here is a picture 

 of one of these boats. 



" Now I will tell you of what becomes of 

 the young ones in these eggs. They come 

 out of the lower part of the egg, and com- 

 monly swim, with their heads downward, 

 near to the top of the water." 



"With their heads downward, Uncle Philip ! 

 what is that for T 



" Why, they have a tube at the end of their 



