42 THE INSECT WORLD. 
of the larvae of the gnat (Fig. 28). They are very small, and 
come to the surface of the water to breathe; for which purpose 
they extend the opening of a pipe, A, which is attached to the 
last segment of the body, a little above the surface. They 
are, consequently, obliged to hold their heads down. By the 
side of the breathing-tube is another tube, B, shorter and thicker 
than the former, nearly perpendicular to the body, its‘ orifice 
being the exterior termination of the digestive-tube. At the 
anus it 1s fringed with long hairs, having the appearance, when 
in the water, of a funnel. At the end of 
the same tube, and inside the hair funnel, are 
four thin, oval, transparent, scaly blades, hav- 
ing the appearance of fins. They are placed 
in pairs, of which one emanates from the right 
side, the other from the left. 
These four blades or fins have the power 
of separating from each other. Each segment 
ot the abdomen has on both sides a tuft of 
hair, and the thorax has three. The head is 
round and flat, and is provided with two 
simple brown eyes. Round the mouth are 
several wattles, furnished with hair, of which 
two of crescent-like form are the most con- 
Fig. 28.— Tara ofthe spicuous. These tufts move with great quick- 





ness, causing small currents of liquid to: flow 
into the mouth, by means of which the necessary food, microscopic 
insects and particles of vegetable and earthy matter, is brought 
to the larva. 3 
They ‘change their skin many times during their continuance 
in this state. This latter fact has been remarked by Dom 
Allou, a learned Carthusian, ‘whose pleasure,” says Réaumur, 
“consisted in admiring the works of the Almighty, when not 
occupied in singing his praises.’ We think it will be inte- 
resting to repeat the few lines which accompany the mention 
made by Réaumur of this worthy Carthusian. They appear to us 
to be well worth reading even at the present day. 
“If the pious monks who compose so many societies, possessed, 
like Dom Allou, the love of observing insects, we might hope 


