NOTES ON BRITISH TRICHOPTERA. 141 



sidered that I wish to disparage the assistance derived from 

 those gentlemen who divide their attention between all orders, 

 or from those who, not caring for Phryganidce themselves, 

 yet catch such as come in their way. To assistance in this 

 respect is due all the information we at present have of the 

 Trichopterous fauna of Ireland, and though this is but a 

 glimpse, it is sufficient to show that a systematic working in 

 that quarter would yield valuable results. From Scotland 

 I have received absolutely nothing, and from thence, es- 

 pecially from the northern portion, I hope some day to hear 

 of the discovery of a veritable mine of novelties. 



However, though it is doubtless to be regretted that there are 

 so few at home who care for these things, still there is a sort 

 of grim satisfaction in knowing that we are at any rate more 

 advanced than most of our Continental neighbours, and that 

 in this respect they don't manage things better in France, as 

 from all I can learn, there is not in that country a single in- 

 dividual who cares in the least for this order. 



A gentleman, than whom no one is better able to give an 

 opinion on this subject, considers that the secret of the indif- 

 ference, with which these insects are treated, consists in the 

 want of a competent handbook; and he remarks, 'Met once 

 a tolerable monograph of Phryganidw be completed, you 

 will have plenty of company." This solution 1 am willing 

 to accept and will do my best to supply the deficiency, and 

 with this idea, I hope that before the end of 1864 I shall 

 have a Manual of our British species in a forward state. 

 Such a work must necessarily be very incomplete, but I do 

 hope that my friends will so far assist me in procuring speci- 

 mens from distant parts of the kingdom, that I may yet be 

 able to add many species to our comparatively meagre lists. 



The cases which the larvae of Trichopfera construct to 

 defend themselves from their aquatic enemies, and in which 



