180 POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY. 



eludes above a hundred British species. The larvae reside 

 in water like those of the Gnat ; that of C. plumosus is 

 found in stagnant water, and is called the Blood-worm, 

 from its red colour. Reaumur mentions that he found one 

 species enclosed in small paper-like cases of a brown colour ; 

 they were spindle-shaped, composed of silk, and somewhat 

 resembled an oblong seed. Midges may constantly be 

 seen in summer, hovering in moist situations, alternately 

 rising and falling, with a motion like that of the Ephemera. 

 Some species are remarkable for the beauty of their colour- 

 ing, and form interesting objects for the microscope. 



Messrs. Kirby and Spence give a very interesting descrip- 

 tion of the manner in which the perfect insect escapes from 

 the pupariuin ; the native place of the pupa being water, 

 whereas the Midge is an inhabitant of the air. For the 

 extrication of the imago, it is necessary that the pupa 

 should remain quietly suspended at the surface, and that 

 the thorax, in which the opening for its exit is to be made, 

 should be at least level with it ; and this is precisely what 

 takes place. By a most singular and beautiful contrivance, 

 not only is the pupa, which is specifically heavier than the 

 water, enabled to suspend itself without motion at the sur- 

 face, but its thorax, which is the heaviest end, is kept 



