DADD Y-LONG-LEGS. 



their tails furnished with long curling filaments, somewhat resembling the 

 arms of a hydra, hence they have been called " Polype worms :" these are often 



found in ponds in great numbers. 

 Their nymphs, which inhabit the 

 snme element, resemble those of 

 the gnats above described, and 

 the escape of the perfect insect is 

 managed precisely in the same 

 manner. Other Tipulae, as for 

 example, 

 The Daddy- long-legs (77- 



fnla oleracea], so commonly met with 

 amongst the grass in our meadows, 

 are derived from larvos that live in 

 the ground, or are found in old bark 

 or rotten trees. Their nymphs are 

 naked, breathe by means of two re- 

 spiratory tubes situated near the 

 FIG. i35.-P.PA AND INSECT OF CHIRONOMVS. g^ ^ haye the rf of thdr 



abdomen covered with little spines. 



The Whame Flies (Tabanus), terrible from their bloodthirstiness, have 

 -appended to their proboscis six lancets so strong as to penetrate the skin of 

 the horse. These insects, which generally make their appearance towards 

 the close of spring, are common in woods and pastures. They fly with a buzz- 

 ing sound, and pursue even man himself in order to suck his blood. The un- 

 fortunate cattle, having no means of resisting their attacks, are sometimes 

 covered with blood owing to the bites of these insects; and Bruce, the Abys- 

 sinian traveller, speaks of one species before which even the lion quails. Their 

 larvae are long cylindrical maggots, tapering towards the head, which is pro- 

 vided with a pair of hooks instead ot jaws. Their pupa is naked, nearly 

 cylindrical, with hairs around the edges of its segments, and provided with 

 six spines at its hinder extremity: it comes to the surface of the ground when 

 about to be transformed into the perfect fly, showing its body half out of the 

 earth. 



The TsetsB, described by Dr. Livingstone, is perhaps the most formidable 

 of the entire class. It is not much larger than the common house-fly, and is 

 nearly of the same brown colour as the honey-bee. The bite of this poisonous 

 insect is certain death to the ox, horse, and dog; but is perfectly harmless to 

 man, wild animals, and even calves as long as they continue to suck. Its 

 poison is inserted by the middle prong of three portions into which the pro- 

 boscis divides, which it plunges deeply into the skin exactly in the bame manner 

 as a gnat, and then sucks the blood until it is filled. A slight itching irritation 

 follows, but not more than that produced by the bite of a mosquito. In the 

 ox this same bite produces no more immediate effects than in man ; but in a 

 few days the poor bitten creature sickens and dies. This terrible insect is, 

 fortunately, confined to certain parts of Africa. 



The Chameleon Flies (Stratyomys), so called from the variety of their 

 colours, are a very harmless race, remarkable on account of the phenomena 

 attending their metamorphosis. Their larvae are to be found in ditches 

 abounding with filth , their bodies are long, flattened, and tapering towards 

 each extremity; their skin is of a horny or leathery texture, and their tail is 

 surrounded by long plume-like hairs, that encircle the orifice through which 



92 



