The Life of the Fly 



tural moorings. A few threads of silk, casu- 

 ally distributed, make the frail combination 

 a trifle more secure. 



And now to the work of building. Sup- 

 ported by the suspensory belt, the Caddis- 

 worm stretches itself and thrusts out its mid- 

 dle legs, which, being longer than the others, 

 are the grapnels intended to seize things at a 

 distance. It meets a bit of root, fastens on to 

 it, climbs above the point gripped, as though 

 it were measuring the piece to a requisite 

 length, and then, with the fine scissors of its 

 mandibles, cuts the string. 



There is at once a brief recoil, which brings 

 the animal back to the level of the hammock. 

 The bit detached lies across the worm's chest, 

 held in its fore-legs, which turn it, twist it, 

 wave it about, lay it down, lift it up, as 

 though trying for the best position. Those 

 fore-legs make admirably dexterous arms. 

 Being less long than the other two pairs, they 

 are brought into immediate contact with those 

 primordial implements, the mandibles and 

 the spinneret. Their delicate terminal joint- 

 ing, with a movable and crooked finger, is 

 the Caddis-worm's equivalent of our hand. 

 They are the working-legs. The second pair, 

 which are exceptionally long, serve to spear 



190 



