66 NEUROPTERA. 



wing. The insects, of which there are a great many 

 British species, are well-known, both in their larval and 

 perfect states to all anglers. Various forms are to be 

 seen near every river and pond, of different sizes, some 

 about an inch in length, others almost microscopic in 

 size. Most of them are tolerably active runners, but 

 their flight is, for the most part, heavy. These insects 

 are all aquatic, the larvse forming for themselves little 

 homes of dead sticks, stones, bits of grass, shells, grains 

 of sand, etc., in which they dwell. Some are active, and 

 carry their houses about with them ; others attach them 

 firmly to stones and other submerged bodies. The bodies 

 of the larvse belonging to the larger species are thick 

 and fat, and are favourite food for almost any kind of 

 fish. The segments of the abdomen have white filaments, 

 of various form, the external organs of respiration. The 

 materials of these caddis' houses are united by fine silken 

 threads, spun from a spinneret on the animal's labium. 

 At the end of the tail there are two hook-like append- 

 ages, by means of which the larva adheres firmly to the 

 inside of its dwelling. Most of the larva3 are herbivorous, 

 thougli they will also eat other larvae, and have been 

 known to prey upon each other when in confinement. 

 When the larva wishes to pass into the pupa state, it 

 closes up the ends of the tube with a sort of open-work 

 fence of silk, which admirably serves the double purpose 

 of keeping out enemies — saying " not at home" to callers 

 when the creature does not wish to be disturbed — and 

 of allowing free access of water to the branchial append- 

 ages which, in the pupa, resemble those of the larva. 

 When ready to complete its final change, the pupa bites 

 away the silken grating, and sets itself free ; some- 



