26 



INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS, 



tioned by the Abbe Preaux, of a four-winged fly, 

 called by him, Mouche baliste, which, when caught, 

 jets out its eggs at intervals, as if by the jerk of a 

 spring.* 



The apparent analogy, however, between these in- 



A, Plarts of Sphirrnhnfus, natural size. B, magnified view. 

 C, sectional view, with tlie seed just previous to pn jcction. D, 

 the seed in the act of projection. E, a plant immediately after 

 projection ; o, the seed ; b b, a. line indicating its course. 



* Diet. Cla5sique d'lTist. Nat., Art. Moucites Balistes. 

 The words are ' Insecte a quatre ailes, qui lance ses oeufs a di- 

 verses reprises, et comme par un ressort, lorsqu'on le saisit.* 



