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THE GNAT. 
down when the sun has set, but I dare say you do 
not know that when it has just come out of its egg 
it is more hke a tiny fish than a Gnat. The Gnat 
lays its eggs in damp wood, such as the rain butt 
in the yard, or in any post or log of wood that is 
in a pool or pond. When it has just come out of 
its egg it will not be able to fly, or live in the air, 
but will lead the same kind of life that a fish does. 
It has a tiny head and a long tail (or body, as you 
may call it) with a fork at the end of it, and it 
wags this tail so fast that it is not easy to see it. 
For some time it will swim in this way, but at last 
it will get out of the rain butt, or pond, and cast off 
its skin, and come out of it a Gnat, who will be 
able to fly in the air, and who will not be able to 
live at all in the pond any more. Fish are very 
fond of the Gnat for food : you may see them rise 
from a pool to take it, when it is just over them. 
It is also fine food for more than one kind of bird, 
and for the bat, as well. 
