MAECH. 79 



to consist merely of a long, slender, and simple organ, it is in 

 fact a number of fine lancet-like pieces, enclosed in a fleshy 

 gutter, forming an instrument admirably adapted for suction, 

 and provided with a poisonous liquid, which it instils into the 

 wound in order to make the blood flow more freely : it must 

 be remembered that the females alone exhibit this thirst for 

 blood, the males contenting themselves (in more elegant taste) 

 with the nectar of flowers. The females deposit their eggs 

 in a remarkable manner : the larvse are destined to inhabit 

 water, and the perfect insect is an aerial being ; it therefore 

 takes its station on the extremity of a floating leaf, and, by 

 the assistance of the hind leg, forms the eggs into a curious 

 boat-like mass, which floats on the water. These hatch in 

 about two days, and may be seen in the larva-state jerking 

 about with great rapidity ; they are small, and semi-trans- 

 parent, long, and furnished at the sides with long hairs; 

 the head is rounded, having two jaws, which are kept in 

 perpetual motion, serving to produce a current of water, 

 which brings small floating particles to its mouth. They are 

 transformed into pupse in about fifteen days, in which state 

 the body is thickened, and exhibits the rudiments of legs 

 and wings ; the external apparatus for breathing now consists 

 of two small horns, and the pupa swims with great agility 



