404 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



of any degree of curvature, as in one of the examples represented 

 in the illustration, where the stick is not only curved, but has a 

 large bud at the end. 



Another case is made of the hollow stem of some plant, appar- 

 ently that of a hemlock, to which are attached a few slips of bark 

 from the plants. Next comes a series of cases in which the Cad- 

 dis larva has contrived to secure a great number of cylindrical 

 grass stems and arranged them transversely in several sets, mak- 

 ing one set cross the other so as to leave a central space, in which 

 the little architect can live. One or two cases are made wholly 

 of bark, apparently the cuticle of the common reed, a plant which 

 is very common in the Cherwell, whence the cases were taken. 

 In all probability, these strips of cuticle have been dropped into 

 the river by the water rats while feeding on the reeds. 



Several cases are made entirely of leaves, mostly taken from 

 the white thorn, which grows in great quantities along the banks 

 of the above-mentioned river. Then there are cases which are 

 equally composed of sticks and leaves, these materials generally 

 occupying opposite ends of the case. There is another series of 

 cases made up of fine grass, apparently the debris of hay which 

 had been blown into the water during the summer, and having 

 the materials laid across each other like the needles of a stocking- 

 knitter. Most of these cases are balanced by a stone. 



Next come a number of cases which are composed of small 

 shells, those of the Planorbis being the most common, and having 

 among them a few specimens of the Limnsea, or pond snail, and 

 many separate valves and perfect shells of the fresh-water mussel. 

 The Caddis larva is an incorrigible kidnapper, seizing on any 

 shell that may suit its purpose, without troubling itself about the 

 inhabitant. It is quite a common occurrence to find four or five 

 living specimens of the Planorbis and Limnaea affixed to the case 

 of a Caddis larva, and to see the inhabitants adhering to the plants 

 and endeavoring to proceed in one direction while the Caddis is 

 trying to walk in another, thus recalling the well-known episode 

 of the Tartar and his captor. In these cases the cylindrical body 

 is made of sand and small fragments of shells bound together 

 with a water-proof cement, and the shells are attached by their 

 flat sides to the exterior. 



There are also several cases which are made entirely of sand 

 cemented together, some being cylindrical, and others tapering to 

 a point like an elephant's tusk. There are also examples of 



