48 THE INSECT WORLD. 
commonly known as “Daddy Longlegs,” &c., and in France as 
“ Tailleurs” and “ Couturiéres,” are found in fields at the end of 
September and commencement of October. 
“Although they sometimes fly a considerable distance,” says 
Réaumur, “when the sun is bright and hot, they generally do 
not go far; often, indeed, only along the ground, or rather 
the top of the grass. Sometimes they only use their wings to 
keep them above the level of the herbage, and to take them 
along. Their legs, particularly the hind ones, are dispropor- 
tionately large. They are three times the length of the body, 
and are to these insects what stilts are to the peasants of marshy 
and inundated countries, enabling them to pass with ease over the 
higher blades of grass.” 
One of the smaller species has been termed culiciformis on 
account of its resemblance to the gnat. The smaller are more 
active than the larger species which we have mentioned. Not 
only do they fly more rapidly, but there are some kinds which are 
continually on the wing. In all seasons, even during the winter, 
at certain hours of the day, clouds of small insects are seen in the 
air, which are taken for gnats: they are Tipule. Their flight is 
worthy of attention; they generally only rise and fall in the same 
vertical line. All these flies come from larvae, which resemble 
very elongated worms, having scaly heads, generally furnished 
with two very small conical antennz, and certain other organs, 
for the purpose of obtaining food. Their bodies are jointed, 
without limbs, but nevertheless provided with appendages which 
supply their place. The larvee of the various species are of very 
different habits. Some are aquatic, as that of Tipula culiciformis, 
a small species which is very numerous in stagnant waters. 
It is necessary to say a few words about these worm-like larvee, 
which are extremely common. They are of a brilliant red colour, 
and inhabit little oblong bent masses of earth, thickly pierced 
with holes. Each hole allows a worm to extend its head, and the 
foremost part of its body, out of the cell, which is made of light, 
spongy matters, remains of decayed leaves, &c. These larve 
are transformed into pups, in the cell in which they have lived, 
Review ”’ for the 1st April, 1868. The larva of a species (Cecidomyia tritict) frequently 
causes much injury to the wheat.—Ep. 
