CONTENTS. XI 



volume in the natural-history library. To the left is a highly magnified 

 figure of the foot, and in the centre are the larva and pupa of another spe- 

 cies much resembling it, abundant in its imperfect stages between the 

 membranes of dock leaves 32 



Try Lightness, friend Poet. 



A leaf of the Poet's epic failure, exposed to the critical scrutiny of a fly on its 

 return to the author from a butter-shop . . . . . . .55 



4. THE GNAT. A LIFE OF BUOYANCY. 



Transformation of the common Gnat, Culex pi/piens, the eggs united in a boat- 

 like form ; the aquatic larva suspended, head downwards ; the pupa with 

 head upwards | and, last stage of all, the pupa with the winged gnat 

 emerging from it 56 



The buoyant Gnat Pupa, and the winged Gnat which half flies, half walks upon 

 the water, figuring the light spirits which dance upon the stream of life, and 

 are unsubmerged by the missiles of care 73 



5. THE WOOD ANT AND THE APHIDES. 



Aphides of the Oak. Two of the large brown ApUs quercus, with their cxirious 

 suckers, and another species of the oak with the wood Ant, Formica rufa, 

 in search of honey-dew, magnified ^ . .74 



The luxuriant and well-fed Aphis, in fashionable attire, and sheltered from 

 the storm by her acorn-cup parasol, passes disdainfully by the starving 

 but industrious Ant, seated unsheltered, naked, and solitary, on a toad- 

 stool . . . .92 



Jfeuruarj. 



6. LIFE IN DEATH. 



The Tortoise-shell Butterfly, Vanessa TTrticce. Suspended beneath the parapet 

 of the wall is the chrysalis of the Cabbage Butterfly, Pontia Brasskce. 

 Above is the hairy caterpillar of the Tiger Moth, Arctia caja. To the 

 right are three caterpillars of the Magpie Moth, Abraxas grossulariata, at- 



