248 
An Account of a 'TRicHoprERous Larva. 
By C.S. Tomes, B.A. Christ Church, Oxford. 
(Pl. IX.) 
DurinG the early part of the summer of 1866 the larve 
which I propose to describe were noticed in the midst of a 
mass of Conferve growing in a pond at Hampstead. Several 
specimens were at that time kept under observation, but were 
not then described, as I hoped to succeed in tracing them to 
their adult form. As I have little hope of again obtaining 
specimens, the pond having since been drained, I now venture 
to offer a brief account of them, there being, so far as I have 
been able to ascertain, no careful description as yet published. 
In the January number of this Journal it is mentioned 
that somewhat later in the summer of 1866 Dr. John Barker 
exhibited before the Dublin Microscopical Club a larval form 
in many respects similar to that now under consideration. 
The larva, however, exhibited by him is spoken of as *‘ Dip- 
terous,”” whilst that which I now propose to describe is 
clearly referable to the order Trichoptera, a difference which 
renders it possible that the creatures may not be identical, and, 
in any case, for the purposes of identification, makes a careful 
description of that which has fallen under my notice desirable. 
The larva is nearly 1th of an inch in length, of elongated 
form, and a pale greyish-yellow colour; it is covered, more 
especially about the head and legs, with long hairs. On the 
head and thorax are a few brown spots, disposed with some 
regularity. The head and thoracic segments, which in the 
usual position of the larva are protruded from the slit-shaped 
opening at either end of the case, are protected above by 
hard plates, whilst the abdominal segments (with the excep- 
tion of the expanded caudal segment) are covered by soft 
integument. (Plate IX.) 
The antenne are very small; the labrum presents no 
marked peculiarity ; the maxillary palpi, as in other allied 
larve, are not distinctly recognised, but the maxille carry 
appendages which are probably sensory and represent them. 
The mandibles are strong, and are shaped somewhat like the 
blade of a pair of nail scissors. ‘The labinm carries distinct 
palpi. 
The second and third pairs of legs are about one quarter 
the length of the body, the first pair being shorter and 
stouter. Mr. Tuffen West has suggested that the crustacean- 
like form of the limbs (which is most marked in the first pair), 
