THE GAD-FLY. 



555 



plumed antennze, is not to be feared, not being a bloodsucker, that characteristic 

 belonging solely to the female. 



The eggs of the Gnat are laid in, or rather upon, water, and are built, as fast as laid, 

 into a boat-like shape, which possesses such powers of flotation, that, even if water be 

 poured upon it, the mimic vessel turns out the water, and rights itself as well as any 

 lifeboat. When hatched, the larvae fall into the water, and begin at once to make 

 themselves very conspicuous by their continual twisting and jerking themselves about. 

 They are long-tailed, large-headed insects, and when they are at rest, they hang with 

 their heads downwards, the whorl of hairs at the tip of the branched tail serving as a 

 float. Through this tail the respiration is carried on, the little creature requiring to 

 breathe atmospheric air. In process of time the larva changes into an active pupa, and 

 lastly, when the perfect insect is about to make its appearance, it rises to the surface, 

 the pupal skin splits along the back, and forms a kind of raft, on which the Gnat stands 

 until its wings have attained sufficient strength for flight. 



COMMON dNAT.-Ci//ejr plplens. GREAT CRANE-FLY. T/pu/a glgaate*. 



FLEA.-Pu/ejr Irrttans. STALK-EYED FLY. Dlopsls thoraclcus. 



TSETSE. G/oss/na morsltans. 



BANDED HORNET-FLY. Aslllus fasciatus. GAD-FLY. Tabaaus bovlaus. BOT-FLY. OBstrus equl. 



The Tipulidae are very familiar to us through the well-known insects called DADDY 

 LONG-LEGS, or CRANE-FLIES, one of which is represented at the upper right hand of the 

 engraving. In their perfect state, these insects are perfectly harmless, although ignorant 

 people are afraid to touch them. But in their larval condition they are fearful pests, 

 living just below the surface of the ground, and feeding on the roots of grasses. Whole 

 acres of grass have been destroyed by these larvae ; and two or three years ago Blackheath 

 Park was so infested with them, that the turf was much injured, and in the beginning of 

 autumn the ground was covered thickly with the empty pupa cases of the escaped insects. 



THE central lower figure in the illustration represents the common BREEZE-FLY, a well- 

 known British example of the Tabanidae. It is also known by the popular names of 

 GAD-FLY and CLEG. As in the gnats, the females are the only bloodsuckers, but they 

 exert their sanguinary ability with terrible force. While staving in the New Forest, I 



