80 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



by means of two small swimmerets, or little oars. There is 

 an apparent difficulty in this little aquatic animal casting off 

 a form with which it could not live in the air, and assuming 

 that which would be destroyed in its future element. But 

 Nature, or rather the God of Nature, is never at a loss for 

 expedients ; the pupa rises to the surface, when ready to enter 

 its new condition, and elevating the thorax above the level 

 of the water, the skin bursts, by -swelling the exposed part, 

 and the head and thorax of the Gnat are seen, while the rest 

 of the body gradually appears. At this critical period (say 

 the authors of the ( Introduction to Entomology') the old 

 skin acts as a life-boat to the little animal; the observer, 

 who sees how this little boat sinks closer and closer to the 

 margin, feels interested for the safety of the insect, for should 

 it upset, the tiny mariner would certainly be drowned ; but 

 the Gnat, having fixed itself perpendicularly, draws first its 

 two anterior legs out of their case, and moving them forward, 

 proceeds to do the same with the next pair; then resting 

 for an instant on the surface of the water, the wings unfold 

 themselves, are dried, and the insect flies away to enjoy its 

 new existence. 



CULEX PTJLICARIS. The Midge. Body slender ; antennae 

 plumose, and forked at the extremity ; wings white, about 



