ADDITIONAL NOTES. IV. 



So from deep lakes the dread musquito springs, 



Drinks the soft breeze, and dries his tender wings. CANTO I. 1. 327. 



THE gnat, or musquito, culex pipiens. The larva of this insect lives 

 chiefly in water, and the pupa moves with great agility. It is fished for 

 by ducks ; and, when it becomes a fly, is the food of the young of par- 

 tridges, quails, sparrows, swallows, and other small birds. The females 

 wound us, and leave a red point; and in India their bite is more 

 venomous. The male has its antennte and feelers feathered, and sel- 

 dom bites or sucks blood; Lin. Syst. Nat. 



It may be driven away by smoke, especially by that from inula 

 helenium, elecampane ; and by that of cannabis, hemp. Kalm. It is 

 said that a light in a chamber will prevent their attack on sleeping 

 persons. 



The gnats of this country are produced in greater numbers in 

 some years than others, and are then seen in swarms for many even- 

 ings near the lakes or rivers whence they arise; and, I suppose, 

 emigrate to upland situations, where fewer of them are produced. 

 About thirty years ago such a swarm was observed by Mr. Whitehurst 

 for a day or two about the lofty tower of Derby church, as to give a 

 suspicion of the fabric being on fire. 



Many other kinds of flies have their origin in the water, as per- 

 haps the whole class of neuroptera. Thus the libellula, dragon fly: 

 the larva of which hurries amid the water, and is the cruel crocodile 

 of aquatic insects. After they become flies, they prey principally on 

 the class of insects termed lepidoptera, and diptera of Linneus. The 

 ephemera is another of this order, which rises from the lakes in such 

 quantities in some countries, that the rustics have carried cart-loads 

 of them to manure their corn lands; the larva swims in the water: 

 in its fly-state the pleasures of life are of short duration, as its mar- 



