ii4 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC INSECTS CH. 



Phantom Larva from its remarkable and almost com- 

 plete transparency. This larva is about two-thirds of 

 an inch long. It often remains for a long time 

 together extended horizontally in the water at a 

 little distance beneath the surface, on the look-out 

 for its prey. Suddenly it disappears from view, and 

 when rediscovered is found to have moved an inch or 

 two, and to point in a different direction. The move- 

 ment is effected by a sudden lashing action of the 

 body, and in its promptitude resembles the jerk of an 

 electric telegraph needle. 



By suitable tackle these larvae can be taken in any 

 required numbers, and it may be well shortly to 

 describe the instruments which are employed to 

 collect this and other aquatic forms of life. There 

 is nothing more generally useful than a hoop, five or 

 six inches in diameter, across which wire-gauze is 

 stretched. The hoop is attached to a socket which 

 receives the end of a long stick. It should be further 

 provided with a rim, upon which a muslin bag of no 

 great depth may be stretched. It is convenient to 

 sew the edge of the muslin bag round an india-rubber 

 ring, which can then be slipped over the metal rim. 

 The object of the gauze is to prevent sticks, leaves, 

 and other floating objects from entering the net. 

 Provided with such an apparatus as this, the collector 

 can sift the water in likely places until he supposes 

 that sufficient material is collected. Then the muslin 

 bag is slipped off from the hoop, and inverted into a 

 vessel of water. On account of its portability, the 

 vessel which I have found it most convenient to carry 

 is half of a large hollow india-rubber ball. For 



