92 MORE MINOR HORRORS 



larva. They are there enclosed in their re- 

 spective sheaths, but these are quite indepen- 

 dent of the larval ' appendages.' The respiratory 

 trumpets, which, as in the larva, pierce the 

 surface-film, are ready to act as breathing- 

 organs. Whereas the larvae breathe through 

 two stigmata at the posterior end of the 

 abdomen, the pupae breathe through two 

 respiratory trumpets issuing from the anterior 

 dorsal surface, and it is these trumpets, to- 

 gether with certain palmate hairs, which 

 support the pupae in the right position and 

 put the respiratory organs at this stage 

 into communication with the outer atmosphere. 

 During the pupa stage Anopheles, like the 

 pupa of other insects, takes no food. 



The pupa is something like a tadpole, 

 with its tail bent under its body and flapping 

 up and down, instead of from side to side. 

 The whole pupa is enclosed in a thin semi- 

 transparent membrane, through which the 

 organs of the adult can readily be seen. As 

 it grows older its colour darkens. Until about 

 the time when it will give rise to the fly, the 

 pupa floats quietly at the surface, breathing 

 through its respiratory trumpets. When dis- 

 turbed it shows considerable activity, and 

 it is by no means always easy to capture 

 by means of a pipette. At the least sign 

 of danger it darts below with a series of inter- 



