244 



FBESH-WATEE AQUAEIA. 



and laid transversely, giving the whole case a bristling 

 appearance. 



The oases of the larvae of the Caddis-fly L. flavicomis are 

 very varied, and often uncommonly beautiful and interesting. 

 Some of them are most regular in their construction and 

 others exceedingly irregular. Occasionally they are made of 

 the same kind of materials which are used by the larvse of 

 L. rhombicus, with the shell of a small species of Planorbis 

 added here and there {d, Pig. 151). Not infrequently are 



Fig. 154. (1) Larva and Case, and (2) Naked Larva (enlarged) of 

 limnophilus flavicornis. 



they constructed entirely, or almost entirely, of these shells, 

 which are so closely and skilfully packed together, that as 

 many as forty or fifty shells may be counted in a single case 

 (1, Kg. 164). The larvse of Limnophilus flavicomis (2, Fig. 

 154) will use other shells besides those of tiny Planorbes in 

 the formation of its tube. Not only wiU it press into • its 

 service small univalves of any kind it may happen to meet 

 with, but even bivalves, such as the Sphcerium corneum, other 

 Sphceria, or some of the Pisidia. It seems to be quite care- 

 less whether it makes use of the right or left valve, or both 

 valves of one of these molluscs. Nor does it stop to find out. 



