310 DESTROYERS OF GRASS. 



much as he, and his long-legged mate, are the parents of these 

 verdure-blighting imps. 



If we look at the slender bodies of different Tipulce of the 

 dame species, we shall perceive that some of them are trun- 

 cated, or as if cut off at the end, while others are finished 

 by a sharp, awl-like point. 1 Now this pointed instrument, 

 which always belongs to and betokens a hen among these 

 insect cranes, she employs, under direction of prospective 

 instinct, to bore the ground for deposition within its bosom 

 of her numerous eggs. From these, which have been com- 

 pared to grains of gunpowder, issue in due season the verdure- 

 blasting trains, which, devouring the roots below, give to the 

 herbage above the appearance of being scorched by fire, or 

 even totally consumed ; as in an instance, adduced by Mr. 

 Rennie, of an acre of ground at Blackheath, which he saw in 

 the summer of 1828, " stripped of grass and everything green, 

 as if pared off from the surface" by the full-fed larvae, then 

 about to assume their second form of pupae. 2 



Reaumur, who describes resembling effects from the like 

 insect causes, in Poitou, opined that these destructive little 

 animals are earth-eaters, causing injury to roots only by 

 disturbance to the ground. This supposition is admitted by 

 the naturalist before named to have some confirmation in the 

 fact that certain species of Tipula feed, as grubs, upon the 

 vegetable mould in hollow trees ; but, amidst different opinions, 

 it would seem still a questionable point, whether the lanky 

 limbs of Father Longlegs are to be considered as most of 

 earthy or of rooty derivation. 



But upon whatsoever nourished through its first estate, the 

 Tipula, when it ceases to be a grub, leaves off grubbing after 

 earthy roots or rooty earth, in the midst of which it howevei 

 quietly remains ; while under the encasing form of pupa, 3 the 

 long legs, with all accompanying members of the "coming" 



1 See Vignette. 2 " Insect Transformations," p. 254. 



3 Pupa of Tipula. 



