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THE TIPUL.E or CRANE-FLIES ? 



* THE Tipulse, in their general form, have a great 

 resemblance to the Gnat. They have a very short 

 membranaceous proboscis, the back of which is 

 grooved, and receives a bristle. The feelers are 

 two, incurved, thread-shaped, and longer than the 

 head ; and the antennse are, for the most part, fili- 

 form. 



The larva are without feet, soft, and cylindrical, 

 and those of the larger species feed on the roots of 

 plants, or in the hollows of decayed trees. Both the 

 larvae and chry solids of the smaller Tipula? are found 

 in water, and are very various both in size and co- 

 lour. Some, like the polypus, are furnished with a 

 pair of arms j and others are inclosed in cylindrical 

 tubes open at the ends. The latter swim nimbly, 

 but the others always remain in the holes they have 

 formed in the banks of rivulets. Some of the spe- 

 cies spin a silken case round part of their body. 

 Their whole frame is, in general, so very tender 

 that a touch alone is often sufficient to crush them. 



THE WHEAT-FLY*. 



In July 1795, Mr. Marsham had been informed 

 that an insect had made its appearance among the 

 wheat of a gentleman, a friend of his, in Hertford- 



* Tipula Tritici. J-inti. Tran. 



