44^ THE GNATS. 



or horns, they now, like other flies, receive air by 

 means of stigmata, or holes, variously disposed over 

 different parts of the body. 



These Rat-tailed Worms pass the first and longest 

 part of their lives, which is supposed to be several 

 months, under water. When near the time of their 

 transformation, they leave that element, retire into 

 the ground, and there become chrysalids B From 

 this state they are changed into flies, and spend the 

 remainder of their short existence in the air. 



THE GNATS. 



THE mouth of the Gnats has a long slender 

 trunk, or flexile sheath, inclosing five pointed bristles; 

 it has also two feelers. The antennae are generally 

 thread-shaped, but those of some of the males are 

 feathered. 



These insects principally frequent woods and 

 watery places, and are generally known to the coun- 

 try people by the name of Midges. They live by 

 sucking the blood and juices of the larger animals. 



Their larva are very common in stagnant waters. 

 The bodies of these are composed of nine segments, 

 the last of which is furnished with a small cylin- 

 drical tube through which they breathe, frequently 

 rising to the surface of the water for that purpose. — 

 The head of the chrysalis is bent down towards the 

 breast, so as to throw the thorax in front : in this 

 the respiratory tubes are situated near the head. 

 i 



