CULEX. 97 



sects is remarkably flexible. She deposits suc- 

 cessively her other eggs in the same manner, 

 glueing them together, and giving them, with 

 her feet, the form of a boat. This little vessel, 

 which, when completed, consists of 2 or 300 

 eggs, placed with the utmost regularity by the 

 side of each other, with their points upwards, 

 has a head and a stern, and in fine weather 

 floats securely upon the water. It is absolutely 

 necessary that the eggs should float upon the 

 surface till they are hatched (which happens 

 in three or four days); for if by any chance the 

 vessel should be wrecked, the larvce will never 

 be produced. 



As one generation succeeds another in the 

 course of a month, we may reckon upon six 

 or seven in the year; insomuch that we should 

 be buried in a cloud of gnats, if it were not for 

 the accidents which happen to them by water, 

 and for the birds, and a multitude of carnivo- 

 rous insects, which prey upon them by land. 



SPECIFICATION. 



Culex pipiens. C. cinereus, abdcmine annulis 

 VOL. II. K 



