Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/180

148 rapacious, devouring every living thing that came within my reach. In surprising my prey, I approached it very stealthily, and pounced upon it suddenly. I was so artful, that insects, and even small fishes, found it difficult to elude my attacks. "My first metamorphosis was inconsiderable, as my appearance underwent very little alteration, and I still retained my six legs, and had the same carnivorous propensities as formerly. At length I felt that the term of my aquatic existence had expired, and I therefore crawled up the stem of a water-plant into the air. Having selected a dry spot, I pushed my sharp claws into the soft stem, and awaited my final transformation. By the swelling of the upper part of my body, the outer skin was greatly distended, and was eventually rent asunder on the back of the head and shoulders. Through this opening I escaped as a perfect fly, leaving the empty slough fixed to the aquatic plant. Old age has now come upon me, and I require no further nourishment; but I must confess that I never lost my rapacious instincts. Instead of seeking an innocent nutriment in the pulp of fruits, or the nectar of flowers, I hovered in the air only to pounce upon other insects and crush them with my powerful mandibles. I have exterminated innumerable gnats and flies in my latter days, and have even caused the death of several moths and butterflies."

This confession so alarmed the gnat, that he flew at once to another leaf, so as to be at a safe distance