256 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



side of the females' bodies, and are either deposited 

 on leaves, stems of aquatic plants, or dropped by the 

 insect fluttering and dipping" on the surface, and sink 

 to the bed of the river. Some, species descend into 

 the water, like a few individual Ephemeridee, and 

 selecting a favourable spot among stones in the bed 

 of the river, there deposit their eggs. 



As before noted, the larvse are divided into two well- 

 marked divisions: (i) larvse 

 Larvse. making portable cases which 



they drag about wherever they 

 go, and (2) larvse making fixed cases, sometimes of 

 small stones, which are generally attached to larger 

 stones, issuing from them to roam in quest of food, 

 and returning when alarmed or for repose. Occa- 

 sionally these larvse construct their cases of vegetable 

 or other debris fastened together with silk in a loose 

 and irregular mass, only forming solid cases when 

 about to change to pupae. 



The larvse begin to construct their cases almost 

 immediately after they have emerged from the eggs 

 and the jelly-like mass with which the eggs are 

 covered. In the cabinet of the Fly-Fishers' Club one 

 drawer is devoted to the life history of the Welshman's 

 button bred in captivity for the club collection to the 

 order and instruction of Mr. Arthur N. Gilbey. In 

 this collection it may be seen that the larva at five 

 days old had constructed a perfect case of niinute 

 dimensions to contain it. The movable cases of 

 larvse vary much in shape and in the materials used 



