2S6 TIPULID.E — CRANE-FLIES. 



"which strain out a Gnat," and Bishop Pearce observes 

 that this is confornialde to the sense of the passao:e. An 

 allusion is made to the custom which prevailed in Oriental 

 countries of passing their wine and other liquors through a 

 strainer, that no Gnats or flies might get into the cup. In 

 the Fragments to Calmet, we are informed that there is a 

 modern Arabic proverb to this effect, "He swallowed an 

 elephant, but was strangled by a fly."^ 



Tipulidse — Crane-flies. 



The larvas of a species of Agaric-Gnat {Mycetophila) 

 live in society, and emigrate in files in a very soldier-like 

 manner. First goes one, next follow two, then three, etc., 

 so as to exhibit a singular serpentine appearance. The 

 common people of Germany call this file heerwurm, and, 

 it is said, view them with great dread, regarding them as 

 ominous of war. •^ 



Maupertuis, in describing his ascent to Mount Pulinga, 

 in Lapland, says : " They had to fell a whole wood of large 

 trees, and the Flies (most probably Tipulidse) attack'd 'em 

 with that fury, that the very soldiers, tho' harden'd to the 

 greatest fatigues, were obliged to rap up their faces, or 

 cover them with tar. These insects poison'd their victuals, 

 for no sooner was a dish serv'd, but it was quite covered 

 with them."^ Maupertuis, in another place, says: "These 

 Flies make Lapland less tolerable in the summer than the 

 cold does in the winter."* The severity with which the 

 Tipulidae torment the Laplanders is attested also by Acerby,^ 

 Linnaeus,^ De Geer,' and Reaumur.^ 



1 Lawson's Bible Cyclop., ii. 55S, 3 v. Svo. 



2 Kirb. and Sp. Introd , ii. 8. 



3 GenLM'jg., 1738, viii. 577. ■* Ibid., xxiv. 274. 



5 Travels, ii. 5; 34-5; 51. Loud. 1802. 4to. 



6 Lack. Lapp , ii. 108. Flor. Lapp., 380. 



7 V. vi. p. 603-4. 



8 V. ix. p. 573. 



