Chapter 1

THE ORIGIN OF THE FLY. (March 8, 1842)

[1.1] The fly, a small animal indeed and often troublesome to man as well as other living creatures on earth, especially at that time of the year when the rays of the sun beat upon the ground, is not so insignificant in the order of things or so purposeless as it may seem to be.

[1.2] In order to examine all this completely and usefully, we must pre-examine the natural state of this little animal.