130 [June, 



only are the wings reduced to very small vestiges, but the legs are 

 weaker, and the antennae are shorter and of fewer joints (7) than 

 are those of the male (whose antennae are 11-jointed). The male, by 

 means of his strong elaspers (so marked a character of the species), 

 was able to hold the body of his mate out in a straight line with his 

 own, and thus carry her about ; so that, when he walked on the glass 

 of the tube, her legs could be seen kicking freely in the air. 



During the next day, each of the females laid about seventy eggs, 

 enclosed (like those of Ghironomus) in a gelatinous tube. The egg is 

 narrowly spindle-shaped, and measures '16 mm. in length. By the 

 morning of the second day, egg-laying seemed to have finished, and 

 the body of the mother became much shrivelled up. As, in both sexes, 

 the mouth-organs are vestigial, it is probable that life in the imaginal 

 state is short. I am not aware that any Chironomid has before been 

 discovered with the wings aborted, as in the present insect. 



Further examination of the Gladophora revealed a larva (fig. 2) 

 of the Chironomid type, which there can be little doubt is that of 

 Glunio. This larva (4 mm. in length) is, except the 

 head, which is brown, of a green colour, closely agreeing 

 with the sea-weed on which it lives and feeds. The head 

 bears two deep black ocelli on each side (the posterior 

 much larger that the anterior), and a pair of short two- 

 jointed antennae. The mandibles are powerful, armed 

 with teeth, and articulated, so as to move in almost 

 vertical planes, though somewhat 



n 



inclined inwards. They act, in 

 conjunction with the serrated 

 labial plate, as scissor-like cut- 

 ters. There are twelve bod}'^- "^ pj 2. 

 segments, the first and last of which are each provided with a pair of 

 sucker-feet, the anterior-pair armed with numerous spines, and the 

 posterior with a few hooks. This larva has not the ribbon-like 

 appendages and special breathing-processes found in that of Ghiro- 

 nomus. 



Science and Art Museum, Dublin : 

 May, 1894. 



KYANIZING. 



BT H. GUARD KNAGGS, M.D,, F.L.S. 



Collectors may come and collectors may go, but mites and mould 

 go on for ever. Even with the experience of generations but little 



