44 THE INSECT tVOJ^LD. 



are commonly known as " Daddy Longlegs," &c., and in France as 

 " TalUeurs " and " Couturieres,'' are found in fields at the end of 

 September and commencement of October. 



" Although they sometimes fly a considerable distance," says 

 Reaumur, " when the sun is bright and hot, they generally do not go 

 far; often, indeed, only along the ground, or rather the top of the 

 grass. Sometimes they only use their wings to keep them above the 

 level of the herbage, and to take them along. Their legs, particularly 

 the hind ones, are disproportionately large. They are three times 

 the length of the body, and are to these insects what stilts are to the 

 peasants of marshy and inundated countries, enabling them to pass 

 with ease over the higher blades of grass.'' 



One of the smaller species has been termed culiciformis, on 

 account of its resemblance to the gnat. The smaller are more active 

 than the larger species which we have mentioned. Not only do they 

 fly more rapidly, but there are some kinds which are continually on 

 the wing. In all seasons, even during the winter, at certain hours of 

 the day, clouds of small insects are seen in the air, which are taken 

 for gnats : they are Tipidce. Their flight is worthy of attention ; they 

 generally only rise and fall in the same vertical line. All these flies 

 come from larvae, which resemble very elongated worms, having 

 scaly heads, generally furnished with two very small conical antennae, 

 and certain other organs, for the purpose of obtaining food. Their 

 bodies are jointed without limbs, but nevertheless provided with 

 appendages which supply their place. The larvae of the various 

 species are of very different habits. Some are aquatic, as that of 

 Tipida adiciformis, a small species which is very numerous in 

 stagnant waters. 



It is necessary to say a few words about these worm-like larvae, 

 which are extremely common. They are of a brilliant red colour, 

 and inhabit little oblong bent masses of earth, thickly pierced with 

 holes. Each hole allows a worm to extend its head, and the foremost 

 part of its body, out of the cell, which is made of light spongy 

 matters, remains of decayed leaves, &c. These larvae are transformed 

 into pupae in the cell in which they have lived during the larval 

 state, losing by this metamorphosis the scaly coverings of the head 

 and of all the exterior parts. They pass into the pupa state, and 

 have the thorax provided with dainty plumes, which probably assist 

 in the action of respiration. This pupa is very active and quick in 

 its movements in the water. When the moment comes for its last 

 metamorphosis, it throws off its feathery covering in much the same 

 manner as the gnat. 



