1 896-97.] The Upper Elf Loch, Braids. 285 



hand, Simocephahts (Daphnia) vetuhis, which was rare in the 

 May gathering, was of frequent occurrence in the other. 

 Graptoleberes testtidinarius, Alonella nana, and Ilyocryptus 

 sordidus, were also among the Cladocera observed. Alonella 

 nana, though very small, is a pretty species, having its test 

 adorned with numerous oblique parallel ridges, which are also 

 slightly curved. As regards the Ostracods, generally known as 

 " water-fleas," of the five species that have been identified, all, 

 with the exception of Cypris fuscata (Jurine), are more or less 

 common forms. Full lists of the whole of these species will be 

 found in the tabulated results to be given in our second paper. 

 No fewer than twenty-five species of Eutomostraca have, so 

 far, been identified as inhabitants of the Upper Elf Loch. 



Advancing to the Arachnida, the pretty little vermilion 

 water-mite (Diplodonttis) is fairly abundant ; and there are 

 probably other members of the same family present, though 

 they have not yet been observed. But the discovery of the 

 Water- spider (Argyroneta aquatica) in this sheet of water, as 

 recorded in the current number of the ' Annals of Scottish 

 Natural History,' x is a very interesting one, showing as it 

 does the prescience of an honoured past president of the 

 Society, Mr A. B. Herbert, who, when he found the Water- 

 spider at Balerno, making the first record of it for the Edin- 

 burgh district, predicted that it would yet be found nearer the 

 city. 



From the Arachnida to the Insecta is but a step ; and Mr 

 Grimshaw has kindly come to our aid in classifying and nam- 

 ing the aquatic insects. Of the Coleoptera, or Beetles, five 

 genera are represented — viz., Hydroporus erythrocephalus, 

 Linn. ; Ilybius fuliginosus, Fab. ; Agabus nebulosus, Forst. ; 

 Ci'lambus inaequalis, Fab.; and Haliplus ruficollis, Deg. Of 

 the Hemiptera, or Water-bugs, there are the following species 

 of the Corixa? — viz., Corixa Geoffroyi, C. Sahlbergi, C. striata, 

 and a fourth not yet identified. 



Among the Insects the Caddis-worm falls to be noted — for 

 though it is popularly called a " worm," this, of course, is a 

 misnomer, seeing it is the larval stage of a four-winged fly. As 

 a " worm " it is well known to anglers, who find it a deadly 

 bait. There are nearly 200 British species of the Caddis- 



1 See ' Annals of Scottish Natural History ' for April 1897, p. 126. 



