288 FLASHLIGHTS ON NATI 



development of the "flax-seed" again, you will 

 find that it is not a seed at all, but the pupa- 

 case (or rather the grub-shell) of a small winged 

 insect ; and it is the life-history of this insect, the 

 Hessian fly, that I now propose to sketch for you 

 in brief outline. 



No. 2 shows the mother fly herself, very much 

 enlarged, for in nature she is but a small black 

 gnat, belonging to the same group as our old 



NO. I. AN INVALID BARLEY PLANT. 



friend (and foe) the mosquito. You will observe 

 that she is a fairy-like creature, for all her wicked- 

 ness : she has two delicately fringed wings (with 

 " poisers " behind them), a pair of long antennae 

 with beaded joints, six spindle legs, and a very 

 full and swollen body. She needs that swollen 

 body, for she is a mighty egg-layer. She flies 

 about on the stubbles in September, and lays her 

 eggs on the self-sown barley plants and on the 

 aftergrowth of the cut crops ; as well as in spring 



