6 NOTES ON 
The difficulty of distinguishing between the 
ova of different species of aquatic insects, and 
the trouble of discovering them, by reason of 
their close adherence to the water-plants, ren- 
der it advisable to collect the larve rather than 
the eggs, when desired merely as a microscopic 
object. For this purpose, the vegetation grow- 
ing at the bottoms and sides of ponds, marshes, 
and slowly-running brooks, should be carefully 
collected and laid on the banks, or, which is 
preferable, on a white cloth spread to receive it, 
and then carefully examined. They often creep 
into ‘small crevices and holes in the roots and 
branches, to avoid discovery. At other times 
they will remain motionless on a part of the plant 
of their own colour, and thus endeavour to 
avoid detection. As they move with great 
rapidity when disturbed, they must be taken up 
quickly with a feather, or the net-spoon, and put 
into a reservoir. 
The disposition of these carnivorous larvee is 
fierce and cruel; hence, if they are madvert- 
ently placed in a vessel with other aquatic 
insects, the collector will find, to his regret, the 
latter either destroyed or injured. 
The magnified view of this larve, represented 
in plate 1, was taken soon after it had cast its 
