s
of my corselet, and I have, in order to enable me to take in the
inspiring air which was created to bear me up, as many mouths as
rings to my corselet."

He then swelled out with a proud air his brown abdomen, which seemed
formed of rings of shell; and while he was indulging in the
admiration of himself and his powers, the sharp eyes of Piccolissima
discovered that these circles were not, as we should say, soldered
together, but were lying on a flexible membrane, or thin skin, which
held them in their place, and which was folded up or extended at the
will of the insect. On either side, between each ring, there was in
this membrane a little oval hole, smaller than those which, near the
cavities of the corselet, emitted and modulated the buzzing sound
which Piccolissima had just heard; these openings enabled the insect
to breathe.

"You have many ways of speaking," the little girl said at last, with
a sigh; "but covered as you are all over with brilliant armor, how
can you touch any thing?"

The fly, who was at this moment digesting his dinner, and who did
not like any interruption in any of his affairs, put forth his trunk
without making any reply, shook a little the small beard that grew
upon it, did the same with his antennae, rounded at the ends like
little cushions, and furnished with feathery hair; then stretched
forth his legs, as if yawning. Piccolissima comprehended that the
two little cushions which ornamented the extreme end of the foot of
the fly, in which she counted five joints, might easily possess the
sense of touch, and that this also rendered them more useful for
motion, and for the toilet; it was like so many intelligent brushes,
all ready to perceive and sweep away the least grain of dust. The
little beards she also thought might have the power of taste, like
the antennae, at the same time that they listened to sounds.

"This young fly is doubtless your son," said Piccolissima to the
insect which had taken his place on her neck, in order that the
warmth might help digestion, without asking whether or not his nails
might tickle the little girl.

"What! hast thou not seen directly that we were not relations? but I
see how it is; I pity you, poor imperfect being with only two eyes
and one mouth, and no trunk," answered the fly. "It is natural that
thou hast only a superficial knowledge. This little upstart who
devours the sugar as if he did not mean to leave any of it for any
one else, this litt