THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 155 



the opening. This moment, and those that follow until the 

 perfect mosquito is set free, are attended with great danger, for 

 every care has to be taken to prevent the case, now acting like a 

 boat, which separates it from the water, from capsizing. For 

 now this little insect that so lately lived in water is suddenly in a 

 position in which one drop of water would be fatal. Raising 

 its head as high as possible in the air, and by means of con- 

 tracting and lengthening the body it works it out of the case, 

 which, by means of its rough construction, aids it to extricate 

 itself. The wings, now long and laid across the abdomen, are 

 not yet free, nor are the legs. While in this position it resembles 

 a boat, for the case, from which it is emerging, is almost 

 hollow. The insect is the mast of the boat, and in this posi- 

 tion drifts on the surface of the water. It is difficult to imagine 

 how it is able to put itself in this dangerous, yet necessary 

 attitude. 



Yet it is more difficult to imagine how it is able to keep 

 itself in this perpendicular position. These moments, which, 

 fortunately, do not last long, are attended with so many dangers 

 that the observer is in a constant state of anxiety and excite- 

 ment for the welfare of the insect. Should a slight breath of 

 wind strike it while thus in a perpendicular position, it would at 

 once fall over and be drowned. It is whilst in this position that 

 many thousands of mosquitoes lose their lives, the surface ot 

 ponds often being covered with the bodies of poor unfortunates 

 who have never reached perfection, and whose day of happiness 

 has been cut short by a watery grave. Whilst in this state they 

 are carried from side to side of the stream as it floats along, all 

 the while continuing the exit from the case. The insect now 

 draws out one long leg, shortly followed by another, and rests 

 them upon the water's surface, which is buoyant enough to 

 allow them to stand upon ; and now, with a last and great 

 effort, which takes all its strength, it pulls out its captive wings 

 and the end of the body. Now all danger is past, and the 

 perfect insect is free. After waiting for some moments on the 

 water, during which it dries and unfolds its wings, which when 

 first set free are damp and limp, but soon become hard and 

 movable, the mosquito gives a preliminary flutter, and then 

 flies off" in safety. 



The imago, or perfect mosquito, is a most beautiful and 

 delicately-formed insect. Its body is long and graceful, a 

 characteristic of all diptera"; its wings are semi-transparent, and 

 are crossed when at rest. These appear very beautiful under 

 the microscope, the scales being very regularly constructed. 

 The legs are long and hairy ; the thorax of a dark brown. The 

 eyes, which are exceedingly large when compared with the 

 head, are of a beautiful greenish iridescent colour, and covered 



