Order PLATYPTERA. 



The species occurring with us are large in size, with the head as broad or 

 broader than the square or oblong thorax, the mandibles large and sometimes 

 prominent, antennae many-jointed and often pectinated in the male. The wings 

 are large, net-veined, the posterior not much the larger, and folded only once 

 near the anal angle when at rest beneath the anterior pair which covers them. 

 The early stages are passed in the water, under stones or among the vegetation 

 at the bottom of running streams. The larvae are rather long, usually blackish, 

 and breathe by means of a series of gill tufts. They are favorite fish-food and 

 are used as bait by fishermen when they can get them. When full grown the 

 larvae crawl on shore, bury in the soil in an old stump or under stones and 

 pupate: the transformations being complete. 



Fig. 18. — Corydalus cornutus : a, the larva, " hellgrnmmi'.e " or " dobson "; ', the pupa ; c, male adult ; 

 </, head of the female, showing the comj aratively small jaws natural size. 



(51) 



