C. miniitus ii 



of the second group often live at the surface of the 

 water, and feed upon weeds. Some of these surface- 

 larvae are green instead of red, the green colour being 

 due to a pigment in the fat. In at least one species the 

 green pigment coexists with red blood. One greenish 

 larva of the second group mines the floating leaves of 

 Potamogeton (pond-weed\ and another smaller kind, 

 Avith pale red blood, does the same \ 



Mr. T. H. Taylor, Assistant-Lecturer in Zoology at v. 

 the Yorkshire College, favours us with a short account 

 of the larva of Chironomm mimdus, Zett., whicli has 

 not. so far as we know, been previously described. The 

 fly, which was reared in captivity, was identified b^- 

 Mr. E. H. Meade. 



' The larva of C. minutiis is found on stones in streams 

 both quick and slow. It escapes observation by sur- 

 rounding itself with an irregular gelatinous tube, which 

 is fixed to a stone, and coated with foreign particles. 

 When disturbed, the creature leaves its case and crawls 

 over the stones like a leech or a Geometer-larva, bringing 

 the anal feet up to the prothorax, extending the bod}- 

 again, and so on. It swims vigorously with a figure-of- 

 eight movement. 



' The larva is of pale green colour, and about seven mm. 

 long. It is similar in general appearance to the blood- 

 worm, except that the blood-gills on the last segment 

 but one are absent. The hooks on the prothoracic feet 

 are toothed like a comb ; the hooks on the anal feet are 

 simpler (fig. 4). The tracheal system is well developed, 

 longitudinal trunks with numerous branches extending 

 throughout the bod3^ 



1 These two groups are not exhaustive. Thus the larva of Chironomus 

 niveipennis has red blood, but no ventral blood-gills. The pupa has 

 a fringed tail-plate, and the branches of the tracheal gill are compara- 

 tively few. See p. 13 for further details. 



miniitiia. 



