CHAPTER IX 



MAY-FLIES AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS 



AQUATIC insects especially offer to observers of 

 Nature a fascinating field for study, because they 

 are so markedly specialised to suit their surround- 

 ings. 



Standing by a clear pool on a bright day of early 

 summer, and gazing into the depths by the aid of 

 the brilliant sunlight, you catch many glimpses of 

 strange living forms. Curious grub-like creatures 

 may be observed slowly crawling here and there 

 amongst the mud and vegetation at the bottom. 

 Others with more lively habits will, without appa- 

 rent effort, dart through the water after some unsus- 

 pecting victim ; or perhaps, creeping about the 

 mud and weeds, some of the caddis-worms will 

 be seen half protruded from the ingeniously-built 

 dwelling-places which they drag behind them. 



Nor need you always stare into the water to 

 see its interesting insect life. Nothing is more 

 curiously fascinating than the mazy dancings 

 of a swarm of the May-flies which appear on 



