62 NEUROPTERA. 



are then to be taken with the net. If a bright lamp be placed 

 upon a table covered with a white cloth at no great distance 

 from water, species are often taken easily, which may be 

 sought for in vain by day. In order that the insects may 

 not rub themselves by fluttering, they must be killed rapidly ; 

 tobacco smoke blown two or three times into the half-opened 

 boxes, which are then quickly closed, soon kills or stupifies 

 even large species. Very small species (Hydroptila) are 

 best pinned at home. For the sake of the appendices anales 

 it is necessary to set all the species with the wings expanded, 

 but, when possible, also to place by the side of them some 

 unexpanded specimens, as the latter are very different in their 

 appearance, and some writers describe expanded and others 

 unexpanded specimens. 



The knowledge of the earlier stages and their cases is 

 still in a very backward state. As a general rule rearing 

 them is not very difficult, if the following rules be observed. 

 Full grown larvae or pupa?, which have been captured in the 

 open waters, usually die very easily in captivity. But if 

 some glasses with aquatic plants (Ranunadus aquaticus, 

 Stratiotes aloides, fyc.) be kept ready, and the eggs laid by 

 captured females (which is a frequent occurrence) be placed 

 in them, full grown larvae at any rate may easily be ob- 

 tained. Gravel, fragments of stone or roots, may be put in 

 to be selected from for the cases ; the presence of some Mol- 

 lusca (Limnceus, &c.) is also of use; but there must not be 

 too many of these, as they greedily devour small larvae of 

 Phryganidte. 



So far as we can judge at present Great Britain is very 

 rich in Phryganidce, and the number of species is consider- 

 ably greater than is here stated. The abundance of water, 

 and the varied nature of the soil, permit us to expect the 



