II 



FLIES WITH AQUATIC LARVAE 



147 



months, the egg-ropes, nearly an inch long, of some 

 very common species of Chironomus may readily be 

 found on the edges of a stone fountain in a garden, 

 or in a water-trough by the side of the road. The 



A 



FIG. 44. Egg-masses of Chironomus. A. egg-rope of C. dorsalis, divided into sec- 

 tions, to show both sides ; B, twisted fibres, which traverse the egg-rope ; C, 

 egg-mass of another species of Chironomus ; D, egg-mass of a third species ; E, 

 part of do. (more highly magnified) ; F, developing eggs, two stages. 



eggs are arranged upon the outside of the rope in 

 loops, which bend to right and left alternately, form- 

 ing sinuous lines upon the surface. Each egg- rope 

 is moored to the bank by a thread, which passes 

 through the middle of the rope in a series of loops, 



L 2 



