236 



Flashlights ox Xatlke 



by minute variations in the antennae and other 

 ahnost microscopic pccuharities. Indeed, it I 

 liachi't told you this was an Indian mosquito, 

 you would never have discovered that it wasn't 

 a Fenland ;4nat. 



The mosquito is in a certain sense an amphi- 

 bious animal ; that i> to sav, dining the course ot 

 its lilc, it has tried both land and water. It bej^ins 

 existence as an acpiatic creature, and only steps 



NO. I. \MSQ! Tins KCC-KAI- r, SF.l.N SUIKWAVS. 



ashore at last to ily in the open aii- when it has 

 arrived at it-^ adult form and tlays ot discretion. 

 The mother uiosquito, llittin^ in a cloud-like swarm 

 ot her kind, haunts foi- the most part moist and 

 watery spots in thick woods or marsiies, and lays 

 her tiny e^-^s on the surface ot some pool or sta_i^- 

 nant walei-. They are deposited one bv one, and 

 then Joined lOLjether with a glutinous secretion into 

 a little ratt or boat, >hown in Xo, i, which Hc^ats 

 about treely on the pond or puddle. It looks just 



