54 



G. F. HILL. 



water at the other. In this they were offered small molluscs, young mosquito larvae 

 and small aquatic animals that adhered to the water-lily leaves used to provide 

 cover. From time to time dead larvae were found which appeared to have been 

 destroyed by their fellows, but the remainder seemed to thrive. On 10th June, or 

 when 77 days old, one of the larvae measured 15 mm. in length. Unfortunately this 

 specimen was lost before a detailed description was obtained. On 3rd July the sand 

 was allowed to dry off gradually, and from this date onwards small earth\vorms only • 

 were offered as food. On 8th October the sand was washed over, but no larvae were 

 found. The vessel and its contents were left undisturbed until 27th October, when 

 the now dry sand was sifted, yielding three larvae measuring from 22 mm. to 23 mm. 

 in length by about 2*5 mm. in width. In such larvae the cuticle is glossy and devoid 

 of the striae observed in larvae of the second instar, there is no trace of iDanding, and 

 the hairs on the dorsal tubercles and pseudopods are colourless. 



Fig. 9. Tabanus riifinotatus, Big., anterior end of larva 24-4S hours old. 



Fig. 10. T. rujinotatus, posterior end of larva 24-48 hours old. 



The two remaining larvae were now placed in a large shallow dish, containing sand 

 at one end and water at the other, in which they were fed on earthworms and mosquito 

 larvae until 8th November, when they were placed separately in five-inch flower-pots 

 standing in a dish of w'ater and containing three inches of clean sand. On 8th December 

 both larvae were evidently fully grown. One of these was secured for examination 

 and is described belovv', the other was returned to its pot, to which had been added a 

 few small earthworms and a little earth. A week later it was found dead and damaged 

 beyond recognition by scores of nematode worms. The loss of the sole surviving 

 larva rendered the identification of the species with which I had been dealing for over 

 nine months impossible for the time being, but the larvae secured on 27th October 



