70 



mates tlio tinu' (if leaving tlie water and fiiii'lit to be less 

 than a seeonil. Tliis ra|}id drying; of the wings occurs in 

 many injects hatched below water: it all(i«"s them to 

 emerge and take Hight before being deluged or washed 

 away by thi' constant lipjiles or little waxes. 



THE CADDIS-FLY 



Caddis-flies are \ erv eonnnon in woocis and often are 

 attracted by lights am! found in houses. Tlieii- winns are 

 g,-uizy .and coxia'cd with fine liairs instead of scales like 

 those of moths and buiicvflies. The f'-.iu' ."|iiile larii'c wings 

 are folded. Avhen tlie insect is at rest, so that the\- slope at 

 an acute angle. ^ly illustrations will serve better than 

 words to give the reader an adequate idea of tlie appear- 

 ances of both the flies and the houses that tlie larv.ac live 

 in. 



WATER STRIT1ERS. 



\\']iere is the boy who has not played with or watched 

 the strange maneuvers and .acrob.itic stunts ]icrformed bv 

 water-striders or "lucky-bugs" and Mhirligigs or "dizzv- 

 bugs?" As soon as the brooks are free from ice. the first 

 striders appear. They have passed the winter hidden in 

 the mud or under stones and le.i\es in a quiet liortion of 

 the brook. 



It is difficult to study the .actions of these striders while 

 •tliey are in the brook because they are too acti\ e ,and we 



