2. In Californian mountains, Keen his eye and sure his aim 3. A little Indian boy Followed him everywhere, Eager to share the hunter's joy, 4. And when the bird or deer The boy was always near To help with right good-will. 5. One day, as through the cleft, Right down the narrow dell. 7. The boy turned round with screams, 8. The hunter raised his gun, He knew one charge was all,— And through the boy's pursuing foe He sent his only ball. 9. The other bear, now furious, Came on with dreadful pace; The hunter stood unarmed, And met him face to face. 10. I say unarmed he stood, Against those frightful paws, 11. George Nidiver stood still, And looked him in the face; 12. Still firm the hunter stood, Although his heart beat high; 13. The hunter met his gaze, Nor yet an inch gave way; 14. What thoughts were in his mind What thoughts were in George Nidiver's, 15. Be sure that rifle's aim, Swift choice of generous part, The depths of a brave heart. E. H. (Elizabeth Hoar?) LXXV. THE MOSQUITO. in-ves-ti-ga-tion, research; Untersuchung. lar ́-va, pl. larvæ, a caterpillar; a grub; Larve. seg'-ment, a portion; Teil; Abschnitt. pu'-pa, the third state of insect existence; chrysalis; Puppe. e-merge', to proceed from; hervorgehen. tho'-rax, the chest; Brust; Bruststück. cap-size', to upset; umwerfen. per-pen-dic ́-u-lar-ly, exactly upright; senkrecht. 1. The gnat is our declared enemy, and a very troublesome enemy it is. However, it is well to make its acquaintance, for, if we pay a little attention, we shall be forced to admire it, and even to admire the instrument with which it . wounds us. Besides which, throughout the whole course of its life, it offers most interesting matter of investigation to those who are curious to know the wonders of nature. During a period in its life, the observer forgetting that it will at some time annoy him, feels the greatest interest in its life-history. 2. The gnat is not always in the form of a winged insect, greedy for our blood. There is a period during which it leaves us in repose. This is the larva period. It is in water, and in stagnant water in particular, that the larva of the insect which occupies our attention is to be found. It resembles a worm, and may be found in ponds from the month of May until the commencement of winter. 3. If we desire to follow the larva of the gnat from the beginning, we have only to keep a bucket of water in the open air. After a few days, this water will be observed to be full of the larvæ of the gnat. They are very small, and come to the surface of the water to breathe; for which purpose they extend the opening of a pipe which is attached to the last segment of the body, a little above the surface.. They are, consequently, obliged to hold their heads down. 4. After having changed its skin three times in a fortnight or three weeks, the larva of the gnat throws off its covering for a fourth time, and is no longer in the larva state. It is changed both in shape and condition. Instead of being oblong, its body is shortened, rounded, and bent in such a way that the tail is applied to the under part of the head. This is the case when the animal is in repose; but it is able to move and swim, and then, by bending its body and straightening it again, propels itself through the water. This new state is called the pupa state. 5. From this pupa the perfect insect will emerge; it is developed little by little, and the principal members may be distinguished under the transparent skin which envelops it. 6. When the insect is about to change from the pupa state, it lies on the surface of the water, straightening the hind part of its body, and extending itself on the surface of the water, above which the thorax is raised. Before it has been a moment in this position, its skin splits between the two breathing trumpets, the split increasing very rapidly in length and breadth. 7. It leaves uncovered a portion of the thorax, easily recognized by the freshness of its color, which is green, and different from the skin in which it was before enveloped. As soon as the slit is enlarged, the fore part of the perfect insect is not long in showing itself, rising above the edges of the opening. 8. The sheath then becomes a sort of boat, into which the water does not enter; and it would be fatal if it did. The gnat itself is the mast of its little boat. It is difficult to imagine how it is able to put itself in such a singular, though necessary, position, and also how it can keep it. The fore part of the boat is much more loaded than the other, but it is also much broader. 9. Any one who observes how deep the fore part of the boat is, and how near the edges of its sides are to the water, forgets for the time being that the gnat is an insect that he would willingly destroy at other times. One feels uneasy for its fate; and the more so if the wind happens to rise, particularly if it disturbs the 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. 10. Though it is only a sort of boat, or rather mast, because its wings and legs are fixed close to its body, it has perhaps, in proportion to the size of its boat, a larger sail than one would dare to put on a real vessel; one can not help fearing that the little boat will capsize. 11. As soon as the boat is capsized, as soon as the gnat |