NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Rat-tailed worm fly. 



be the feet, or, perhaps more properly, the arms, 

 by which the animal performs many of its move- 

 . ments in the water, and by whose aid alone it 

 can move itself forward on dry land. Another 

 principal use of these members seems to be to 

 loosen the mud for the purpose of allowing the 

 mouth to find easier access into it than it other- 

 wise might do ; performing in some measure the 

 same functions in this respect as the gristle in 

 the nose of a hog. The animal has the power 

 of drawing these organs inward at pleasure, so 

 as to hide them as it were within the cheeks; and 

 from this peculiar position some persons have 

 said that this larva carries its feet in its mouth. 



When the time of its metamorphosis ap- 

 proaches, (which is about the middle of July) the 

 larva leaves the water, and, climbing up the side 

 of the bank, chooses a place where it can lie only 

 in part immerged in water. Here it remains at 

 rest, until it finally attains its chrysalid state. 

 From five to ten days are occupied in attaining 

 its complete form, and becoming a fly. 



The rat- tailed worm-fly always lays her eggs 

 in moist places, such as are frequented by the 

 common black lizard, and they never appear on 

 dry ground till about to undergo their first trans- 

 formation. In this state the larvae somewhat re- 

 semble a tadpole, in form; the fore-part being 

 soft, thick, and rounded, and the tail small and 

 tapering. They are covered with a viscous fluid, 

 and on that account are generally found en- 



