286 INSECTS. 



several years, hiding under stones or in holes in the mud. 

 It then becomes a pupa, and after accomplishing its time, 

 rises to the surface, throws off its skin, and flies away, 

 bearing the name of dun ; it shortly alights on a tree or 

 fence, and sheds its entire skin, withdrawing even its 

 delicate wings and minute whisks from their previous 

 covering. Its colors in the second stage are usually more 

 brilliant, and under the name spinner it enjoys the plea- 

 sures of life, perpetuates its species and dies in a few 

 hours. While laying its eggs, it will be noticed either 

 resting on the water or floating up and down over it. 

 Certain species can swim well under water, and I believe 

 descend to the bottom to deposit their eggs. I have had 

 numbers alight on my pants when I was wading a rapid 

 stream, run down my legs to the bottom, crawl over the 

 stones, and with a zig-zag motion swim against the cur- 

 rent to the surface. Rocks are frequently seen darkened 

 with flies, that on any sudden approach drop into the 

 water and disappear. 



The ephemeridce include the blue dun, which becomes 

 the red spinner in its final state ; the marsh brown, which 

 changes to the great red spinner ; the turkey brown, that 

 is transformed into the little dark spinner ; the iron blue 

 dun, that becomes the jenny spinner; the green and 

 grey drakes, the July and August duns, and many others. 

 The phryganidce comprise the sand and cinnamon flics 

 and the grannom or green-tail, besides many undescribed. 

 Of the diptera, which are distinguished by having but 

 two wings, we have the cowdung-fly, the golden dun 

 midge, and the black gnat ; of the beetles, the peacock 

 and fern flies and marlow buzz ; of the hymenoptera, the 



