48 THE INSECT WOELD. 



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

 " Tailleurs " and " Couturier -es" 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 in- 

 undated 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 Tipulce. Their flight is worthy of atten- 

 tion ; 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 pur- 

 pose 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 Tipula culiciformis, a small species 

 which is very numerous in stagnant waters. 



It is necessary to say a few words about these wormlike 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 fore- 

 most part of its body, out of the cell. They are made of light, 

 spongy matters, remains of decayed leaves, &c. These larvae 

 are transformed into pupae, in the cell in which they have lived 



Keview" for the 1st April of this year. The larva of a species (Cecidomyia tritici) 

 frequently causes much injury to the wheat. ED. 



