Secrets Of Nature - Phantoms (1930)

A Pro Patria presentation produced by British Instructional Films Ltd. Secrets of Nature - Phantoms. Shot of a pond then a close up of what looks like a leaf on the water’s surface. It is a cluster of gnat eggs. Underwater shot of the eggs hatching downwards into the water. Spiral of eggs in a disc of jelly - this is the home of the gnat’s cousin, the “Phantom gnat“. Phantom gnats have a much harder job hatching than other gnats as they have to work their way through the jelly. The small creatures in extreme C/U under microscope. The creatures are transparent so internal organs are visible. They balance themselves in the water with the aid of three bubbles inside them. They move around under the microscope. C/U of the Phantom’s tail. We see it moving around contrasted with its “cousin“ - the real gnat. Extreme C/Us of heads of creatures. Larvae take in air from the surface of the pond. Gnat blows bubbles when it is deprived of air. “The gnat is more heavily moustached than even Old Bill“ jokes