CONCERNING EGGS 71 



Not only do the eggs of different species of insects 

 vary considerably the one from the other as regards 

 their colour, some being white, others yellow, others 

 green, others pale blue, and others pink; but a change 

 of tint frequently takes place after they have been 

 laid, and those of my readers who used to keep 

 silkworms will, doubtless, remember that the 

 newly-laid eggs of the sUk-moths are pale yellow, 

 and afterwards turn to a violet hue. 



The female common gnat is an insect which 

 shows considerable ingenuity in the method of 

 deahng with her eggs, for as its larvse pass their 

 existence in water, it is necessary for the ova from 

 which they emerge to be deposited close to that 

 element, and, with that end in view, the parent, 

 when laying her eggs, proceeds to build them into 

 a floating raft or boat, which has been likened 

 unto a wherry in shape, the two ends being higher 

 than the sides, and the lower part being convex 

 or keel-shaped in form. The manner in which 

 the tiny insect commences to construct her egg- 

 boat is very remarkable. First of aU she settles 

 upon some object floating upon the water, such as 

 a leaf or twig, and then thrusts out her hind legs 

 behind her, and crosses the one over the other. 

 Within the area thus enclosed she begins to lay 

 her eggs, the first one being supported at the 

 junction of her crossed legs, and the other ones 

 being placed in juxtaposition thereto, the eggs 

 being united together by a sticky secretion, until 

 as many as three hundred have been deposited. 



Mention must also be made of the lackey moth, 



