296 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



rare enough, for the toad has an excellent appetite. 

 Fortunately for themselves, as well as the toads, 

 Belton folk let them altogether alone, well knowing 

 the useful purpose they serve. 



In May 1899 the larvae of the Tipula, locally 

 known as " Daddy-longlegs," were discovered in the 

 grass of the Beach Gardens. For some unaccount- 

 able reason they turned up in thousands each 

 morning pecks of them, indeed, being seen in the 

 few days of their sojourn aboveground. They 

 were brushed up and destroyed, but the grass 

 was ruined. The sparrows took no notice of 

 them. 



In the first week in September the grassy banks 

 of Breydon walls on the north side near my 

 houseboat simply teemed with Craneflies the 

 insects produced from the larvae above mentioned. 

 Each grass tuft looked like a ripe reed as they 

 clung in clusters to it. As one brushed through 

 the grass they fell off in scores and hundreds. 

 I do not think I shall exaggerate if I estimate 

 their numbers in millions ! Fortunately, a stiff 

 breeze from the landward side of the bank blew 

 them into the salt water of Breydon, and in one 

 day destroyed many of them. They floated in 



