INTERESTING STONE HOUSES. 



While the children were playing in a homes, only thrusting the head and a por- 



small brook, they found something en- tion of the body out in search of food, 



tirely new to them, and as usual, came When about to pass into the torpid 



with hands full, shouting, "We have found pupa state, they fastened their houses to 



something new ! Do you know what some sticks and stones in the water, and 



these are ?" then closed the end with a strong silken 



These new treasures proved to be the grating, which allowed the water to pass 



larvae of the caddis fly in their stone freely through their houses, keeping them 



houses. This little creature is noted for sweet and fresh. We are told that this 



its complete metamorphosis. The female fresh water is necessary for the respira- 



fly often descends to the depth of a foot tion of the pupa. Thus they remain quiet 



or more in water to deposit her eggs. As for a time until they are ready to assume 



the eggs hatch the habits of their larvae the imago form. When that important 



are exceedingly interesting. period arrives they make an opening in 



They are aquatic, being long, softish the silken grating with a pair of hooked 

 grubs, with six feet. The fish are very jaws, which seem to have developed while 

 fond of them, for which reason they are resting in the pupa state. They also have 

 in great demand for bait. The angler become efficient swimmers, using their 

 looks for "cad-bait" along the edges of long hind legs to assist them. After en- 

 streams, under stones, or on the stalks of joying this new exercise of swimming for 

 aquatic plants. One can easily see that a short time they evidently become 

 their lives are not free from care and dan- anxious for a wider experience, and com- 

 ger, and so to protect themselves, they ing to the surface of the water, usually 

 are very wise in building cylindrical climbing up some plant, the skin of the 

 cases in which they live during this dan- swimmer gapes open and out flies the per- 

 gerous period. The different species, of feet insect. Sometimes this final change 

 which there are many, seem to have their takes place on the surface of the water, 

 individual preference as to the substance when they use their deserted skin as a 

 which they employ in building these sort of raft, from which to rise into the 

 houses, some using bits of wood, others air, and away they go to new fields and 

 shells, pebbles, or straws. They readily new experiences. These insects are 

 disregard these preferences when there is known as the caddis-fly of the order 

 a lack of the material which they usually Neuroptera, having four wings, measur- 

 prefer. ing about an inch when full spread, with 



Those brought to me were made of branched nervures, of which the anterior 



different colored pebbles and were very pair are clothed with hairs ; the posterior 



pretty homes. We counted the pebbles pair are folded in repose. The head is 



in one of them and found there were furnished with a pair of large eyes, with 



eighty-nine used, and built so securely three ocelli, and the antennae are gener- 



that it could not be easily crushed by our ally very long. 



fingers. They were all about an inch in If you know the haunts of this interest- 

 length, a quarter of an inch in diameter ing house builder, scatter some bright 

 and were perfect cylinders with a large sand and tiny pebbles in the water, and 

 pebble fastening one end ; so no fish could when they are deserted, gather the houses 

 catch them unawares. We placed them in for your collection, 

 water, where we could watch their devel- Rest H. Metcalf. 

 opment. They never willingly left their 



55 



