j 54 ORDER IV. Ephemera. 



That the antennas are fetaceous and fhort. 



That the tarfus of each foot has five articu- 

 lations, and 



That the thorax is very fh'ortJ 



Their flight is flow and heavy, which ren- 

 [ ders them an eafy prey to fwallows, and other 

 birds. 



Thefe infefts differ in many particulars From 

 all others ; their caterpillars live in the water, 

 where earth and clay feem to be their only 

 nourilhment for three whole years, the time 

 they confume in preparing for their metamor- 

 phofis, which they undertake and effeft in a 

 few moments. The larva, when ready to quit 

 that ftate, arifes to the furface of the water, and 

 getting inftantaneoufly rid of his fkin, becomes 

 achryfalis. This chryfalis is furniflied with wings, 

 which it makes ufe of to fly to the firft tree or 

 wall it meets, and there fettling, in the fame 

 moment quits a fecond fkin, and becomes a per- 

 fect Ephemera. In that ftate, for which it had 

 been fo long preparing, the pleafures it enjoys 

 mud be very fenfible, if they are lively in pro- 

 portion to the fhortnefs of their duration ; the 



infeffc 



