40 CUiaOSITIES OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



and iiynipha is that the latter has sheaths for the Aviiigs, 

 which are rolled or criini])led up inside them. The banks of 

 rivers may often be seen to be completely riddled by these 

 larvfe, which tunnel for themselves tubular galleries in the 

 mud to the depth of four or five inches. The larvae of some 

 other members of the Ephemeridai, instead of living under the 

 sand, or in tuljular galleries, swim from place to place, as in 

 the genus Cloii, while others crawl on the ground and on 

 aquatic plants. In throwing oif their swaddling-clothes the 

 Ephemerae emerge through a split in the back. They often 

 draw out the anterior pai't of the body first, and sometimes 

 the tail part, or abdomen, appears first. Sometimes, instead 

 of leaving their swaddling-clothes in the water, they deposit 

 them on a blade of grass, or some water-weed. Being heavy 

 fliers in their sub-imago state — for their wings are scarcely 

 dry, and their muscles unequal as yet to any great exertion — 

 they are constantly dropping for a second or two on the water, 

 and are then sucked down the throat of some fish. 



The Rev. W. Houghton thus describes the further meta- 

 morphosis : — ''Let us now follow the green-drake to the spot 

 Avhere he has rested. Here he will remain for the space of 

 two or three hours, perhaps, and then will be introduced to 

 the world of life as an adult and perfect insect. Look at this 

 ])ladc of grass. What is the shadowy form that clings to it? 

 It is a delicate mend>rane, thin and light as possible, which 

 the slightest breath will blow away. Notice the split across 

 the back, through which the former tenant left his abode. It 

 is the cast-off" skin of the green-drake, now metamorphosed 

 into a creature more active than Harlequin or Columbine — 

 the male into a dark-brown insect, Avitli clear and gauze- 

 like \Aings, the female into a beautiful creature, with body 

 marbled white and brown. How diff'erent now is the mode 

 of flight ! But, alas, * out of the frying-pan into the fire.' 

 The flies are partly safe from Scylla, but they fall into 

 Charybdis ; for birds of various kinds, swallows, swifts, tom- 

 tits, lai'ks, chaifinches, and a host of other feathered enemies, 

 are on the watch, seeking the dainty morsels to feed them- 

 selves or their huncrv vouno-. See now how curious is the 



