Mr. Ray to the Editor. 317 



Of the Vermiculi or Nympha^ previous to thefe Aure* 

 I knew nothing % and now I perceive that the 

 change of one of thefe into the other is not inftanta- 

 neous, by the cafting of a Skin, as the change of the 

 Aurelia into a Gnat> but gradual; fo that this feems 

 to be a different fort of Generation from the reft of 

 this kind. 



I think you need not doubt but that the perfe£fc 

 Gnat lays the Eggs in all thefe kinds, and that thofe 

 that are foecund, are render'd fo by the coition of 

 the Male and Female j for this is agreeable to the 

 procefs of Nature in the Generation of all Infe£ls 9 

 none ever generating till they have run through all 

 their changes. As for the fuddennefs of „ laying their 

 Eggs after their leaving the Aurelia-ftate,that needs not 

 ftartle you 5 for 'tis ufual for many of them to couple 

 and lay their Eggs fo foon as ever they are come out ; 

 the Females alfo may drop their Eggs without any 

 coit, if there be no Male near. 



From thefe different forts of Vermiculi and Aureli<e 

 doubtlefs do proceed various kinds of Gnats^ notwith- 

 Handing I find but two defcribed in Authors. How- 

 beit I think you miftake in charging Swammerdam 

 with that Error 5 for I find in my French Copy of 

 him thefe Words , Car nous en trouvons defplujieurs 

 fortes. You will deferve well of thofe who apply 

 themfelves to the Hiftory of Infe&s, if you fhall find 

 qut, defcribe and diftinguifh thefe Species. 



For my part I am now almoft threefcore and fif- 

 teen Years of Age , fo that it is time for me to give 

 over thefe Studies and Enquiries and befides I am fo 

 lame, and almoft continually afHi&ed with Pain, that 

 I cannot attend any Study, being diverted by Pain. 

 'Tis true of late Years I have diverted my felf by 

 fearching out the various Species of InfeSls to be found 

 hereabouts, but I have confined my felf chiefly to two 

 or three forts, viz* Papilios diurnal \ and nottumal^ 

 Beetles^ Bees and Spiders. Of the firft of thefe I have 



r . found 



