838 DIVISION III. ARTICULATED ANIMALS.—CLASS IV. INSECTA. 
“A larger portion of the Gnat is thus uncovered, and, at the same time, 
the head is advanced farther towards the anterior end of the covering; but 
as it advances in this direction, it rises more and more, the anterior and 
posterior ends of the sheath thus becoming quite empty. The sheath then 
becomes a sort of boat, into which the water does not enter; and it would 
be fatal if it did. The water could not find a passage to the farther end, 
and the edges of the anterior end could not be submerged until the other 
was considerably sunk. The Gnat itself is the mast of its little boat. 
Large boats, which pass under bridges have masts which can be lowered ; 
as soon as the boat has passed the bridge, the mast is hoisted up by degrees 
until it is perpendicular. The Gnat rises thus until it becomes the mast of 
its own little boat, and a vertical mast also. 
“Tt is difficult to imagine how it is able to put itself in such a singular, 
though for it a necessary, position, and also how it can keep it. The fore 
part of the boat is much more loaded than the other, but it is also much 
broader. Any one who observes how deep the fore part of the boat is, and 
how near the edges of its sides are to the water, forgets, for the time being, 
that the Gnat is an insect that he would willingly destroy at other times. 
One feels uneasy for its fate; and the more so if the wind happens to rise, 
particularly if it disturbs the surface of the water. But one sees with 
pleasure that there is air enough to carry the Gnat along quickly ; it is car- 
ried from side to side; it makes different voyages in the bucket in which it 
is borne. Though it is only a sort of boat, or rather mast, because its 
wings and legs are fixed close to its body, it is, perhaps, in proportion to 
the size of its boat, a larger sail than one would dare to put on a real ves- 
sel; one cannot help fearing that the little boat will capsize. As soon as 
the boat is capsized, as soon as the Gnat is laid on the surface of the water, 
there is no chance left for it. Ihave sometimes seen the water covered with 
Gnats which had perished thus as soon as they were born. It is, however, 
still more extraordinary that the Gnat is able to finish its operations. Hap- 
pily they do not last long; all dangers may be passed over in a minute. 
“The Gnat, after raising itself perpendicularly, draws its two front legs 
from the sheath, and brings them forward. It then draws out the two next. 
It now no longer tries to maintain its uneasy position, but leans towards the 
water, gets near it, and places its feet upon it; the water is a sufficiently firm 
and solid support for them, and is able to bear them, although burdened 
with the insect’s body. As soon as the insect is thus on the water, it is in 
safety ; its wings are unfolded and dried, which is done sooner than it takes 
to tell it; at length the Gnat is in a position to use them, and it is soon seen 
to fly away, particularly if one tries to catch it.” 
These troublesome creatures, during their season, allow us no repose. 
