150 



EPHEMERA. 



THE EPHEMER/E, or day-flies, which name they get 

 rather on account of the period to which their longest 

 life is supposed to be limited, than to the time of their 

 appearance, come later upon the water than the Phry- 

 ganese. These, like the former, have four neuropterous 

 wings, but the hinder pair are so small, that they seem 

 only to have two. Their antennae are short, compared 

 with those of the spring flies ; and they carry their 

 wings erect. Some of them have three, and others two 

 long filaments in the tail. 



The economy of these little creatures is very curious. 

 The females of most, if not of all the species, deposit 

 their eggs upon the surface of the water, when they 

 sink to the bottom, and the maternal duties and cares 

 are at an end. The egg thus deposited is soon hatched 



