PRESERVING WATER ANIMALS 



of aquatic insects skulk in the shrubbery, or swarm above 

 the water, and mayflies and caddis flies can often be found 

 in the spider webs on bridges where they have been caught 

 in flight. 



Electric lights. — Electric street lamps and the lighted win- 

 dows near streams or lakes are gathering places for insects, 

 especially on warm humid nights; then caddis flies and 

 craneflies may be picked by dozens from the electric light 

 poles or from the sides of buildings. 



When to collect. Weather. — In the brook, there is no closed 

 season; even in January the flat stones of the rapids shelter 

 a lively multitude. Sunshiny days are the best ones even 

 for water collecting. Spring sunshine brings out the turtles 

 and all the tadpole tribe, toad, frog, and salamander, and 

 insect visitors crowd into the blossoms of the white water- 

 lilies. Dragonflies and their kin emerge from the water; 

 unlike their dusk-loving relatives the little Leptophlebias 

 (mayfly) swarm forth on quiet sunny afternoons. On misty 

 days or in soft rains flying insects hide under bridges, beneath 

 leaves, or on nearby tree trunks and can be easily picked 

 up by hand. 



Time of day. — Many things can be found only at special 

 times, in the morning, or at twilight or night. Mating 

 flights of mayflies and caddis flies occur in late afternoon, 

 mostly at twilight. Animals which hide in the daytime are 

 usually most active at night; such are the mqsquitoes, moths, 

 crayfishes, salamanders like Ambystoma, the toads, and 

 several of the frogs. 



Many water animals lay their eggs at definite times, some- 

 times almost by the clock. Snapping turtles lay eggs in 

 the forenoon, wood turtles lay in mid-afternoon, and spotted 

 salamanders at night. 



Seasons. — In the water as in other places, spring and 

 summer are in general the most active and most populous 

 times. Water organisms join others in the winter retreat 



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