WATER-FLY OF SHAKSPEARE. 91 



to the order Coleoptera. They are beetles less 

 in size than those we have been considering, and 

 dwelling not on the land, but in the water. On a 

 sunny day, they may be seen on almost every pool, 

 gliding with ease and rapidity in ceaseless circles, 

 dimpUng the glassy surface of the water, diving 

 when disturbed, and carrying down with them a 

 bubble of air shiaing like quicksilver. It would be 

 difficult to say why Shakspeare uses the word water- 

 fly as a term of reproach, and still more so, to ascer- 

 tain if this little whirlwig was the insect alluded to. 

 One of my fellow members has suggested that the 

 ephemerae may be meant, as they fling off their pupa 

 case with extreme rapidity, assume a new form, and 

 exist for so brief an interval. But this conjecture, 

 although ingenious, would scarcely be applicable to 

 the passage in "TroUus and Cressida," 



" Ah ! how the poor world is pestered with such waterfties, diminu- 

 tives of nature ! "—Act V. Sc I. 



Nor would it agree with the manner in which the 

 word is employed by Cleopatra, who, indeed, uses one 

 term, now restricted to the flesh flies : — 



" Rather on Nilus' mud 



■ Lay me stark naked, and let water-flies 

 Blow me into abhorring." 



Antony and Cleopatra, Act V. Sc. III. 



