THE EGGS OF INSECTS. 61 



apparatus, which would be very difficult to explain, 

 although the insect appears to understand it per- 

 fectly, never making the mistake of pulling the 

 wrong string. Others, intended to go through an 

 aquatic course of existence in their first stage, like 

 those of the Gnat, escape, as I have described, 

 through the lower end of the egg, at once into the 

 water. There would be no limit to describing all 

 the modes in which larvae are ushered into their first 

 stage of active life ; but sufficient has been related 

 to show the attractive interest of this subject ; and 

 now, having devoted more space than I intended to 

 the egg-period of insect life, I must proceed at once, 

 in the next Chapter, to the description of the Cater- 

 pillar, or larva stage, from the time of its escape from 

 the egg-shell to that of its full growth and prepa- 

 ration for the pupa state. 



