SO NEW YOUK STATE .MISKI'.M 



dead leaves and rubbish ma\ he put in the glass for them to 

 I'--' d upon. The larvae of Ghironomus usually hide them 

 selves from view, and in the mud ami debris form tubes which 

 "pen at the surface. vYhen placed in a jar I heir chief anxiety 

 is to bury themselves in the mud. and ver\ soon the\ will gather 

 bits of dead leaves ami panicles of sand about them, binding 

 them together with \isrid threads passed out of (lie month, and in 

 a short time will be completely concealed in a mu^h tube. These 

 tubes are frequently seen upon the surface of dead leaves, on 

 stones, sticks, etc. One species is known fo be a leaf miner 

 I I'd tit, I'.lllll). The larvae of species belonging to the groups 

 O e r a t o p o g o n and Tanypus usually do not form tubes, 

 but remain free. Specimens captured in the fall may live all 

 winter and not transform until spring. Some specimens of 

 Ceratopogou taken bv ihe writer in September lived until 

 the following .Mav in the larval stage, and it is probable that 

 they live thus nearly a year. The larvae may be found all Ihe 

 .\ear around, while the adults are common e \.-epi ing in the dead 

 of winter, and a few specimens may be found even at that season. 

 The larvae are best preserved in alcohol, either lirst killing 

 them in hot water, or placing directly in the alcohol. If any 

 peculiarity of color mark in- is observed it should lirst be noted, 

 as the spirits soon remove much of the pigment. The adult should 

 be mounted with great care, either upon an elbow pin (MacGil 

 livray. I'.HCJb), or upon a minutien nadel. a short and very 

 slender headless pin, thrust through a small piece of cork or 

 pith and then into the under side of the thorax of the ily. 

 Through the other end of the cork an ordinary insect pin is 

 placed, and the specimen is then ready for the cabinet. It is 

 also very desirable to preserve some specimens of each species 

 in alcohol, or better still, in a mixture of formaldehyde and 

 glycerine. The latter preserves the original colors quite well, 

 especially if kept in the dark. These specimens should be put 

 in very small vials and should, of course, bear the same number 

 label as the pinned specimen. Tlr,- fore tarsi of the genus 

 Chironomus are very easily broken off. and therefore it is 

 qnite necessary that great care should be observed in preserving 

 them since their presence is necessary in the determination of 



