20 Mr. C. H. Goodman on the Crane Fly. 



myriads lived and moved, and had their being, falling some 100 

 to 450 fathoms to the bottom when tlieir little life was ended, 

 and the surface must have been bathed in such sunlight as we 

 here in England have now no practical experience of. 



105. — Observations on the Emergence of the Crane Fly, 



TiPULA OLERACEA. 



By Chas. H. Goodman. 

 (Read September 14th, 1892.) 



On the 26th May, and at subsequent dates till 13th August, I 

 took some crane-fly larvae {Tipiila oleracea) under the turf of my 

 garden, and put them into a breeding-cage for observation. On 

 the evening of 26th August two imagines emerged from the pupae 

 about 8 p.m. after dark, one of whicli I was able to watch. The 

 pupa worked its way up till it projected about half an inch above 

 the surface ; a small split at the head and back then took place, 

 and the fly began to emerge. This was effected by gentle lateral 

 movements, with intervals of rest, and occupied altogether fifteen 

 minutes. The legs and wings were, of course, folded close to 

 the body, which appeared unduly attenuated as it mounted 

 higher and higher, the grey-coloured abdomen being marked 

 with at least five wide black transverse bands. Before the body 

 was fully extricated, and while the long legs were still held by 

 the pupa-case, the wings were slightly loosened, but not sufii- 

 ciently to be of any service. As the pupa was standing in bare 

 soil, and not surrounded by grass, it became a matter of interest 

 what would prevent it falling over ; in time, however, it was 

 projecting sufficiently far to enable the fore legs to be withdrawn, 

 and then the second pair. They soon appeared to become firm, 

 and were stretched out till they came in contact with the sides 

 of the box, some three-quarters of an inch distant. By the 

 support thus gained, the hind legs and the rest of the abdomen 

 were quickly withdrawn, and the fly scrambled up the side to 

 rest, the long heavy body hanging down. The wings gradually 

 extended, still being kept folded over the back ; but by the 

 expiration of half an hour the abdomen had considerably con- 

 tracted, the broad black bands being reduced to narrow lines, till 

 merely its tip was visible beyond the wings, and a short time 

 after the Tipula was ready to fly. 



It may be desirable to add that the eggs, which are very 

 numerous, are small, black, and shining, and are laid in the 



