146 



CHAPTER XI. 



ORDER VI. TRICHOPTERA. 



No one, whether angler, botanist, or conchologist, can 

 have dabbled much in freshwater rivulets, in pools, or 

 even in ditches when constantly filled with water, with- 

 out observing certain curious little bundles of dead leaves 

 and sticks, sometimes exceeding an inch in length, and 

 often so apparently shapeless that it is only by the find- 

 ing of several, all resembling each other, that the atten- 

 tion becomes attracted to them. After a time one of 

 these apparently inert masses begins to move, and a 

 little shiny head and six small legs are seen protruding 

 from one end of the bundle, which is now perceived to 

 be a cylindrical case, irregular indeed externally, but 

 well formed and even within, and terminating at each 

 end in a round opening. 



The hermit which inhabits this singular dwelling is 

 the Caddis-worm, well known to anglers, a larva of the 

 family Phryganea, of the order TRICHOPTERA. 



The insects in this order have a strong resemblance to 

 certain moths, they have large downy wings which lie 

 close to the body when at rest, greatly expanding when 

 exposed. The antennae are long, the legs slender, and 

 the colours dull (see PI. V. fig. 6). A still stronger 

 point of resemblance is in the habit just mentioned of 

 the larva living in a portable case constructed by itself, 

 and carried like the felt tube of the Clothes-moth, or the 



