474 Handbook of Nature-Study 



are called "harvestmen" and the French call them "haymakers." Both 

 of these names were very probably given, becaiise the creatures appear in 

 greater numbers at the time of haying and harvesting. 



LESSON CIX 



THE DADDY-LONGLEGS 



Leading thought These long-legged creatures have one pair of legs 

 too many to allow them to be classed with the insects. They are more 

 nearly related to the spiders, who also have eight legs. They are pretty 

 creatures when examined closely, and they do many interesting things. 



Method Put a grandfather greybeard in a breeding cage or under a 

 large tumbler, and let the pupils observe him at leisure. If you place a few 

 drops of sweetened water at one side of the cage, the children will surely 

 have an opportunity to see this amusing creature clean his legs. 



Observations i . Where did you find the ( harvestman? What did 

 it do as soon as it was disturbed ? How many names do you know for this 

 little creature ? 



2. A "daddy" with such long legs certainly ought to have them 

 studied. How many segments in each leg? How do the segments look? 

 How do the legs look where they are fastened to the body? Which is the 

 longest pair of legs? The next? The next? The shortest? 



3 . If you had such long stilts as he has, they would be about forty feet 

 long. Would you lift yourself that high in the air? Does the "daddy" 

 lift his body high or swing it near the ground? What shape is the body? 

 Can you see if there is a distinct head? Can you see a black dot on top of 

 the front end of the body? If you should see this dot through, a micro- 

 scope it would prove to be two bright black eyes. Why should the 

 daddy's eyes be on top? 



4. Do you see a pair of organs that look like feelers at the front end of 

 the body? These are called palpi. How does he use his palpi? Give 

 him a little bruised or decaying fruit, and see him eat. Where do you 

 think his mouth is? Where does he keep his palpi when he is not using 

 them for eating? 



5. Note what care he takes of his legs. How does he clean them? 

 Which does he clean the oftenest? Do you think the very long second 

 pair of legs is used as much for feeling as for walking? Put some object 

 in front of the "daddy" and see him explore it with his legs. How much 

 of the leg is used as a foot when the "daddy" stands or runs? 



6. When running fast, how does the "daddy" carry his body? When 

 exploring how does he carry it? Do you ever find the "daddy" with his 

 body resting on the surface on which he is standing? When resting, are 

 all eight of his legs on the ground? Which are in the air? Is the head 

 end usually tilted up or down? 



7. Do you see the daddy-longlegs early in the spring? When do you 

 find him most often? How do you suppose he passes the winter in our 

 climate? Have you ever seen a "daddy" with one leg much shorter than 

 the other? How could you explain this? 



8. Try and discover what the daddy-longlegs eats, and where he finds 

 his food? 



