i66 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC INSECTS CH. 



double crotchets of the worm can also be seen by the 

 microscope in the stomach or intestine. Like some 

 other carnivorous animals, the larvae can endure a 

 long fast. Before I knew of what their food con- 

 sisted, I kept them in small vessels filled with earth 

 and water, and found that they lived and moved 

 about actively for several weeks without food. It 



seems to be well established that 

 certain Ticks, e.g. Argas persiciis 

 and Argas reflexiis (the Canterbury 

 Tick) can live for at least four 

 years without drawing blood.^ In 

 order that the Dicranota larva may 

 be able to pursue the worms, and 

 follow them into the depths of their 

 burrows, it is necessary that it 

 should be able to travel with 

 tolerable speed through mud and 

 gravel. Its body is accordingly 

 furnished with feet suited to such 

 a mode of locomotion. Five seg- 

 ments near the hinder end of the 

 body are provided with paired feet, 

 which resemble the false feet of 

 caterpillars. Each of these is furnished at the tip 

 with three circles of hooks, the terminal ones being 

 the longest.^ Almost the whole of the surface of the 

 body is covered by a dense growth of minute pointed 

 hairs, which are directed backwards. In order that 



Fig. 51. — Gland-cell of 

 skin of Dicranota 

 larva, with its duct, 

 opening on the surface. 



A D. Michael in Natural Science, Vol. I. p. 202. 

 2 These circles are not complete, but interrupted variously, 

 as wab pointed out to me by Mr. J. J. Wilkinson of Skipton. 



