Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/182

150 usually swam near the surface of the water, with my head downwards and my tail in the air for my breathing organs were situated in the tail, and not along the sides, as in caterpillars. In course of time I underwent a semi-transformation, like that of our noble friend the dragon, and ten days after I broke through the skin that covered me, and winged my way through the air."

The reader would probably like to hear how the gnat escapes from its envelope, without wetting its wings. The most important, and indeed indispensable part of the mechanism, is the maintaining of its upright position while extricating itself from the skin. The envelope, as it is thrown off, forms a life-boat, and supports the gnat until it gets its wings set at liberty and trimmed for flight. The body of the insect serves this little boat for a mast. "When the naturalist," says Reaumur, "observes how deep the prow of the tiny boat dips into the water, he becomes anxious for the fate of the little mariner, particularly if a breeze ripple the surface, for the least agitation of the air will waft it rapidly along, since its body performs the duty of a sail as well as of a mast; but as it bears a much greater proportion to the little bark than the largest sail does to a ship, it appears in great danger of being upset, and once laid on its side all is over. I have sometimes seen the surface of the water covered with the bodies of gnats which had perished in this way; but for the most part all terminates