212 ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 



sent for that purpose about the time of their change. 

 The May Fly while in Embrio, is inclos'd in a longer 

 and much smaller Husk, which is sharp and pointed 

 at one end like a Cock's Spur. 



Since I entered upon this Work, the following 

 ingenious account of this Fly has been communicated 

 to me by a Gentleman who is a very accurate observer 

 upon nature's productions, which as it may be a 

 matter of Curiosity and Entertainment to some of 

 my Readers I shall here give them as briefly and 

 as near his own Words as I can. I happen'd to Walk 

 by the River side, at that Season of the Year, when 

 the May Flyes (he means the Grey sort) which are 

 a species of the Libella, come up out of the Water, 

 where they lie in their husks for a considerable time 

 at the Bottom or Sides of the River, near the likeness 

 of the Nymph of the small common Libella : but 

 when it splits open its Case, and then with great 

 Agility up springs the new little Animal with a 

 slender Body, four blackish Vein'd transparent Wings, 

 with four black Spots upon the Upper Wings, and 

 the under Wings much smaller than the upper ones, 

 with three long Hairs in its Tail. The Husks which 

 are left behind float innumerably upon the Water. It 

 seemed to be a Species of Ephemeron, and I imagined 

 it was the same Insect describ'd by Goodhart and 

 Swammerdam, but a few Days convinc'd me to the 

 contrary ; for I soon found them to be of longer 

 duration than theirs. The first business of this 

 creature (after he is disengaged from the Water) is 

 flying about to find a proper place to fix on (as 

 Trees, Bushes, &c.), to wait for another surprising 

 change which is effected in two or three Days. The 

 first hint I receiv'd of this wonderful Operation was, 

 seeing their Exuviae hanging on a Hedge ; I then 

 collected a great many and put them in Boxes, and 

 by strictly observing them I could tell when they 

 were ready to put oft' their Cloaths, tho' put so lately 



