The Crane Flies 



sect under consideration were found in the early spring in a 

 shallow swampy slough full of rushes and swamp grass. In the 

 mass of dead stems, grass and leaves, through which a broad 

 stream of water ran slowly, were found the cylindrical rusty- 

 brown larvae of Bittacomorpha, which in their appearance look 

 like bits of decaying grass stem. Their stomachs were found to 

 be filled with diatoms, mud and dead vegetable tissue and the 

 larvae had evidently fed on the diatomaceous growth which coated 

 the decaying stems. At the anal end of the body was a long 

 respiratory tube bearing two pairs of spiracles at the end. About 

 the end of March they showed some swelling and within the 

 loose skin the soft white pupae were found. The thoracic res- 

 piratory tube was rudimentary and the tube was coiled between 

 the larval and pupal skins. On April 6th the first adult flies is- 

 sued. Later, in September, a number of adults were seen flying, 

 which indicates either an emergence of the same generation both 

 in fall and spring or two generations annually, the offspring of 

 the fall flies remaining in the larval state through the winter and 

 giving forth adults in the spring. The eggs have not been ob- 

 served and a more careful study of this species is needed. 



9 6 



