THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 101 



and yet they are of unimpeachable accuracy ! This marvel- 

 lous rapidity of movement in the wings of insects explains 

 the astonishing ease with which they fly. As M. Blanchard 

 says, " In our days the railway traveller, carried at full 

 speed, often amuses himself by watching from the window 

 the movements of the gnats that flit about with incompar- 

 able ease. These puny flies, notwithstanding the agitation 

 of the air, dart backwards and forwards, wheel, rise, sinkj 



46. Sphinx Galii sipping up Honey. 



and continue their gyrations for hours at a time, as if they 

 were there to show us that the greatest speed we can attain 

 is trifling compared to the power of their delicate wings." 



After this we are no longer astonished at the activity 

 shown by some butterflies, such as the sphinx, when they 



