190 THE PERLINA. 



order by the nature of tlieir wings, which are naked, 

 and slightly reticulated, and of which the posterior 

 pair are considerably larger than their fellows, and 

 folded in repose. The head is large and broad, and 

 the whole body nearly of equal width throughout; 

 the mouth is furnished with both labial and maxillary 

 palpi ; the mandibles are generally small and weak, 

 and the tarsi composed of three joints. The males 

 are usually considerably smaller than the females, 

 and in many cases the wings in this sex are shorter 

 than the abdomen, whilst in the more fortunate 

 females these organs extend beyond the middle 

 of the caudal bristles. They are carnivorous insects, 

 although from their sluggish habits, and the general 

 weakness of their mouths, they cannot be particularly 

 formidable. We have several British species, some 

 of which, like the common Stone-fly, are very abun- 

 dant, and enjoy with that insect the unenviable 

 reputation of furnishing good baits to the angler. 

 Amongst these a yellowish species with black eyes 

 and ocelli, and greenish wings (the Chloroperla viri- 

 dis), bears the elegant name of Yellow Sally ; and a 

 species of the genus Nemura, in which the caudal 

 bristles are deficient, is called the Willow -fly , from 

 its occurring about willows in September. 



The larvae of the Perlina present, perhaps, the 

 closest resemblance to their parents of any of the 

 Neuropterous larvae; their form is nearly the same, 

 their antennae and legs are equally long, and the 

 larva is furnished with caudal bristles even when the 

 perfect insect is not so well provided. They are said 

 by Mr. Westwood to prefer the most rapid parts of 

 streams, where, however, they shelter themselves 

 under stones, a habit well known to the angler, who 



