FOREST, FISH AND GAME CO.MMISSION. 52 1 



dobson of the fishermen. This species is easily identified by the accompanying 

 figures, and it is so well known that further notice is hardly necessary in this 

 connection. 



The family Hemcrobiidce is familiar through one of its larger and a number 

 of its medium sized species. The large Polystocchotcs is a very characteristic insect 

 of the Adirondacks, and in certain sections, at least, it occurs in enormous numbers. 

 It was abundant at the railway station at Saranac Inn, and Dr. Lintner found it in 

 immense numbers at Keene valley. Nothing is known regarding its larval life, 

 though probably it is terrestrial. Dr. Needham succeeded in obtaining eggs. 



The medium sized species of this family are well known as lace-winged flies, and 

 they, like the Chrysopidcz, the more common lace-winged flies, known in the larval 

 state as aphis lions, are terrestrial in habit. Two genera of the smallest forms were 

 reared by Dr. Needham, the larvae of both being aquatic and living at Saranac Inn 

 in fresh water sponges. 



Sisyra umbrata Ndm. Plate 5. A few of the larvje of this species were found 

 on fresh water sponges living in the hatchery and about the middle of June their 

 cocoons began to appear on the sides of the supply trough in such numbers that it 

 was evident that the larvae were coming in from the supply pipes. This larva is 

 peculiar in that it possesses paired, jointed appendages beneath the abdominal seg- 

 ments and on account of its long downward-curved, piercing mouth parts which are 

 of a unique suctorial type. The cocoons spun in the hatchery were located just 

 above the water on the smooth tarred vertical sides, some on the upper edges, some 

 on the sides and edges of the hatching trough below, but mostly on the outside of 

 the supply trough and in the angles which they make with the hatching troughs 

 or in the thread grooves at the base of the faucets. The larva spins over itself a 

 hemispheric cover of close woven silk attached by its edges to the supporting sur- 

 face and a complete inner cocoon of considerably smaller size, likewise close woven. 

 Adults were present in the hatchery in vast numbers, hundreds of them being easily 

 collected from the ceiling in the best lighted portions of the room. A few were 

 taken in trap lanterns placed near the outlet of Little Clear Pond. One or two 

 specimens were caught while sweeping aquatic vegetation in Little Clear Creek. 



Cliviacia dictyona Ndm. Plate 5. The cocoons of this species, like those of the 

 preceding, were also very common in the hatchery troughs and they are easily recog- 

 nized by the outer covering of coarse silk woven in hexagonal meshes like bobinet 

 Avithin which is the inner cocoon of closely woven finer threads. Adults reared from 

 these beautiful cocoons proved to be this species. The first appeared on June 18 

 and throughout the remainder of the month they were fairly common. Then they 



