004: INSECTS AT HOXE. 



from the Gnats. On one occasion, on a close sultry night, 

 when not the slightest breeze was stirring, and in consequence 

 every breath of air was priceless, he was driven to take refuge 

 in his carriage, and to shut all the windows. Now closed 

 windows, although they may exclude those Gnats which are 

 outside the carriage, cannot eject those that are already in it, 

 and they were so numerous that Dr. Clarke wa-s forced to tie 

 several handkerchiefs over his head, in spite of the sultry 

 weather. Setting these handkerchiefs at defiance the Gnats 

 got into his mouth, crawled up his nostrils, and forced them- 

 selves into his ears. In despair, he tried to light a lamp and 

 succeeded, but the flame was instantly extinguished by the 

 Gnats, who flew to the light, and pom-ed in such uumbers down 

 the glass chimney that a large conical heap of their bodies lay 

 over the burner. 



As for remedies, it is no easy matter to recommend them. I 

 have an idea that the remed)'' must suit the idiosyncrasy of the 

 sufferer, and that a prescription which suits one person admir- 

 ably will have little or no effect upon another. For my owm part, 

 I have found that arnica serves to keep dow^n the swelling and 

 irritation better than anything else. This year, 1871, 1 have been 

 bitten several times, but have applied arnica, and found that it 

 saved a vast amount of torture. There was some swelling and 

 considerable irritation, lasting for several days, but the aggra- 

 vated symptoms of the j)receding year did not show themselves. 



The life history of the Gnat is very interesting. When the 

 female is about to deposit her eggs, she proceeds to the nearest 

 water, and there sets about the last task of her life. Placing 

 her front legs on a piece of floating stick, straw, or anything 

 that will support her tiny weight, she allows the middle pair of 

 legs to rest on the surface 'of the water, and crosses the hind 

 pair so as to look like the capital letter X. She then deposits 

 a rather long and spindle-shaped egg, and places it upright 

 with the base downwards in the angle of the X. Another egg 

 is quickly placed by the side of the first, and followed by 

 others, all of which are glued together by a cement which is 

 not affected by water. Guided by the crossed legs, the eggs 

 are formed into a boat-like shape, and are then left to float on 

 the smface of the water. 



These little egg-boats are quite plentiful in the summer 



