4 DADDY-LONG-LEGS ' 99 



extreme elongation of the legs of these insects. 

 Doubtless there is a reason, which will be dis- 

 covered when we know the full particulars of 

 its life. ' As every one knows, the legs break 

 off with great ease, and the insect appears to 

 get on very well without them. It is fre- 

 quently the case that they are much longer 

 in the males than in the females. Other parts 

 of the body exhibit a peculiar elongation ; in 

 some forms of the male the front of the 

 head is prolonged into a rostrum. The larvae 

 exhibit a great variety of form, some being 

 terrestrial, others aquatic ; but the terrestrial 

 ones seem all to delight in damp situations, 

 such as shaded turf or rotten tree-stems. 

 There are more than a thousand species of 

 these flies known and many genera.' 



In the illustration (Fig. 28) the eyes of 

 the insect attract special attention and the 

 highest admiration from every one who studies 

 them. They are faceted, and are of wonderful 

 complexity and delicacy. 



They are totally different in structure and 

 very distinct in function from the eyes of the 



