THE CULEX PIPIENS. 393 



full of life, are, as it were, swathed up and incapable of taking 

 nourishment. They swim with the aid of two large lamellae, which 

 resemble a tail somewhat ; and it may be noticed that when the 

 nymphs come up to the surface of the water they do not present 

 their tails, like the larvae, so as to obtain air, but allow their backs 

 to touch the surface just where there are two little respiratory tubes. 



When the perfect insect is about to emerge from the nymph 

 this last floats on the surface of the water, perfectly at rest, and 

 then the skin of the back, which is exposed to the air, dries and 

 splits open. Then the perfectly-formed gnat begins to come out ; 

 first of all it protrudes its head, then a portion of its body, and, 

 after a short time, one long leg after another is disengaged from the 

 nymph's skin. But all is not over yet, and the gnat has to take 

 great pains so as not to capsize the frail little boat-like skin which 

 separates it from the water. Very gradually this little creature 

 rises up and extends its wings, which are still moist and limp, but 

 soon, especially if the weather is warm, they become crisp and 

 movable, and then the gnat gives a downward stroke with them 

 and flies off in safety. There is no pseud-imago state, as in the 

 Neuroptera. When there is no wind this is not a very difficult 

 operation, but during stormy weather thousands of gnats are 

 drowned, for, if their wings are once wetted, there is an end to 

 the insect's existence within a very short time. 



The species of the genus Tipitla, known commonly as Daddy 

 Long Legs, from their immensely elongated thin legs, frequent 

 grass lands and marshy districts, and very frequently commit great 

 havoc upon the turf. The females have a long ovipositor, and 

 penetrate the earth with it and leave their eggs underground, and 

 the larvae eat the fine roots of all the delicate plants which come in 

 their way. The Tipula oleracea, or the Cabbage Crane Fly, is very 

 common, and the perfect insect is of a tawny colour, and its wings 

 are rather dusky. The larva has a black head, and the rest of its 

 body is of an earthy colour, and the last segment of the body is 

 perforated by the respiratory orifices, and has four tubercles upon 

 it. The nymph is more compact than the larva, and is usually 

 motionless, but it can move with the aid of some spines which are 

 upon the body, so as to approach the surface of the soil when 

 about to undergo the second metamorphosis. 



