MARCH. 79 



naked eye to consist merely of a long, slender, and simple 

 organ, it is in fact a number of fine lancet-like pieces, en- 

 closed 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 

 larvae are destined to inhabit water, and the perfect insect 

 is an aerial being ; it therefore takes its station on the ex- 

 tremity 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-transparent, long, and 

 furnished at the sides with long hairs ; the head is rounded, 

 having two jaws, which are kept in perpetual motion, serv- 

 ing to produce a current of water, which brings small 

 floating particles to its mouth. They are transformed into 

 pupae 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 



