Many insects are too small to be cut up into their various parts, legs, feet, wings, etc., by unskilled hands and they must be examined whole. Perhaps you may think that an insect will be too big an object for your microscope. Indeed there are some insects which measure nearly a foot in length, but there are, on the other hand, beetles no longer than one hundredth part of an inch. When we examined the house-fly it is not unlikely that we found some minute creatures living upon it. None of these is likely to be an insect, but as they are closely related we may mention them here. Beneath the wings of the house fly there are often minute, red, six legged young mites, all eagerly sucking the juices of their host. Because they are six legged we may be led to think that they are insects, for the entomologist knows that the true insect, in its adult form, never has more than six legs. These mites, however, later in life, drop from the fly and by developing another pair of legs appear in their true colours. Various other mites, including cheesemites, may be found clinging to the house-fly, in fact it is by the aid of these insects that cheesemites are often carried from cheese to cheese. One of the most curious parasites of the house-fly must be sought upon its legs. If the search is successful, curious, reddish-brown creatures, armed with formidable pincers, and strangely reminiscent of miniature lobsters, will be found clinging thereto. They are called chelifers and their home is the manure heap, so that their presence shows us only too well where our friend the fly has recently disported himself. His next visit was probably to our food. [Illustration: 1. THE HEAD OF A BEETLE A remarkable beetle, with enormously developed fore-legs. The object of these long legs is not known. 2. THE HEAD OF HERCULES BEETLE This beetle, whose head resembles a lobster’s claw, is said to carry his wife from place to place. 3. A CICADA One of the noted singing insects. Kept as a pet in some countries, voted a nuisance in others, the cicada is the medium of much romance. 4. THE HEAD OF MANTIS This illustration clearly shows the cruel rat-trap-like front legs of the rapacious mantis. ]