JOURNAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS 
OF THE 
LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 

Description of a curious Form of Dipterous Larva. By E. Harr 
Viney, Esq., M.D., F.LS. 
[Read Feb. 21, 1861.] 
In the early part of the year 1855, while examining with the 
microscope some water taken from a pool near my house at Bays- 
water, I noticed some small animals moving about with an active 
wriggling motion, which, as I believe them to be peculiar, I ven- 
ture to introduce to the notice of the Society. They were very 
few in number, and I mounted some specimens in Canada a 
for future observation. 
My first casual examination gave me the idea that they were 
mere larval conditions of some insect ; a belief which was strength- 
ened by the most prominent feature of the animal—a beautiful 
tuft of hairs (possibly respiratory organs) at the tail—and under 
this impression they were put aside with some other objects, but 
in consequence of more pressing occupation were for a long time 
neglected. 
I have since consulted several entomologists, and finding their © 
opinions to coincide with my own, I have thought it might be useful 
to give the following description :— 
Body composed of thirteen segments, the four anterior compara- 
tively short; cephalic joint narrow, truncated in front ; eye-spots 
LINN. PROO.—ZOOLOGY. 
