THE MUSOUETO FLY. 319 



A large variety of gnat. 



production, to any other where the water may 

 be too cold, or the animals, their enemies,. too 

 numerous. In this state they therefore resemble 

 a buoy that is fixed by an anchor. As they 

 come to maturity they sink deeper; and at last, 

 when they leave the egg, they creep in the form 

 of grubs at the bottom. 



The musqueto-fly is nothing more than a large 

 variety of the common gnat, wliich is very com 

 mon in the woody and marshy parts of all hot 

 climates. It also abounds, during their short 

 summer, throughout Lapland, Norway, and Fin- 

 Jand, and other countries equally near the pole. 

 The female bites and sucks the blood in such a 

 severe manner as to swell and hlister the skin in 

 a most violent manner, and sometimes leaves ob- 

 stinate sores. These insects are found in such 

 swarms, in the woods, that whoever enters them is 

 sure to have his face covered, and he is scarcely 

 able to see his way before him. A swelling and 

 disagreeable itching instantly follows the punc- 

 ture, and these are succeeded by small white 

 ulcers ; so that the face of a person coming from 

 the country is scarcely to be recognized, and it 

 appears full of blotches. Even gloves are not 

 always found a protection against these trouble- 

 some insects, as they often pass their stings 

 through the seams. It is the female that only 

 bites ; the buzzing, however, of both males and 

 females is so very loud, as to be alone sufficient 

 to disturb the rest of persons at night. 



