§88 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA : 
The musquito is of the same species with the 
common gnat in England, and resembles it 
very closely both in size and shape. Like 
the gnat, it lays its eggs on the surface of 
the water, where they are hatched in the 
course of a few da vs, unless' the water is 
agitated, in which last case they are all de¬ 
stroyed. From the egg is produced a grub; 
which changes to a 
to a musquito ; this last change takes place on 
the surface of the water, and if at the mo- 
ment that insect first spreads its wings the 
water is not perfectly still and the air calm, 
it will be inevitably destroyed ; at those parts 
of the lake, therefore, which are most ex¬ 
posed, and where the water is oftenest agitated, 
no such thing as a musquito is ever seen; 
neither are they ever found along a large and 
rapid river, where the shores are lofty and 
dry; but in the neighbourhood of marshes, 
low grounds, and stagnant waters, they always 
abound. Mosquitoes appear to be particularly 
fond of the fresh blood of Europeans, t who al¬ 
ways suffer much more the first year of their 
arrival in America than they do afterwards. 
The people of the country seem quite to dis¬ 
regard their attacks. Wherever they fix their 
sting, a little tumor or pustule usually arises, 
supposed to be occasioned by the fermentation 
when mixed with the blood, of a small quail- 
chrysalis, and afterwards 
