
46 

























THE INSECT WORLD. 
surface of the water. But one sees with pleasure that there is air 
enough to carry the gnat along quickly ; it is carried from side to 
side ; it makes different voyages in the bucket in which it is borne. 
Though it is only a sort of boat, or rather mast, because its wings 
and legs are fixed close to its body, it is perhaps, in proportion to 
| the size of its boat, a larger sail than one would dare to put on a 
real vessel ; one cannot help fearing that the little boat will capsize. 
“ * * As soon as the boat is capsized, as soon as the gnat is 
laid “on the surface of the water, there is no chance left for it. 
I have sometimes seen the water covered with gnats which had 
| perished thus as soon as they were born. It is, however, still 
| more extraordinary that the gnat is able to finish its operations. 
Happily they do not last long; all dangers may be passed over in 
a minute. 
“The gnat, after raising itself perpendicularly, draws its two 
front legs from the sheath, and brings them forward. It then 
draws out the two next. It now no longer tries to maintain 
its uneasy position, but leans towards the water ; gets near it, and 
places its feet upon it; the water is sufficiently firm and solid 
support for them, and is able to bear them, although burdened 
with the insect’s body. As soon as the insect is thus on the 
water it is in safety; its wings are unfolded and dried, which is 
i done sooner than it takes to tell it; at length the gnat is in a 
: position to use them, and it is soon seen to fly away, particularly 
if one tries to catch it.”’ 
One more word about the gnat, whose life is full of such 
interesting details. ‘| 
The reader will perhaps not feel"much pleasure in learning that 
| the fecundity of these insects is extraordinary. Many generations 
. are born in a single year, each generation requiring only three 
. weeks or a month to arrive at a condition to bring forth a new 
| generation. Thus, the number of gnats 
which comes into existence in the 
course of a year is something fearful. 
Only a few days after the pupx in 
iis a bucket are transformed into gnats, 
eggs whieh have been left by the females may be observed floating 
on the surface of the water in little clusters. 

ee 

