THE CULEX EIPIENS. 
393 
full of life, are, as it were, swathed up and incapable of taking 
nourishment. They swim with the aid of two large lamellae, which 
resemble a tail somewhat; and it may be noticed that when the 
nymphs come up to the surface of the water they do not present 
their tails, like the larvae, so as to obtain air, but allow their backs 
to touch the surface just where there are two little respiratory tubes. 
When the perfect insect is about to emerge from the nymph 
this last floats on the surface of the water, perfectly at rest, and 
then the skin of the back, which is exposed to the air, dries and 
splits open. Then the perfectly-formed gnat begins to come out ; 
first of all it protrudes its head, then a portion of its body, and, 
after a short time, one long leg after another is disengaged from the 
nymph’s skin. But all is not over yet, and the gnat has to take 
great pains so as not to capsize the frail little boat-like skin which 
separates it from the water. Very gradually this little creature 
rises up and extends its wings, which are still moist and limp, but 
soon, especially if the weather is warm, they become crisp and 
movable, and then the gnat gives a downward stroke with them 
and flies off in safety. There is no pseud-imago state, as in the 
Neuroptera. When there is no wind this is not a very difficult 
operation, but during stormy weather thousands of gnats are 
drowned, for, if their wings are once wetted, there is an end to 
the insect’s existence within a very short time. 
The species of the genus Tipula , known commonly as Daddy 
Long Legs, from their immensely elongated thin legs, frequent 
grass lands and marshy districts, and very frequently commit great 
havoc upon the turf. The females have a long ovipositor, and 
penetrate the earth with it and leave their eggs underground, and 
the larvae eat the fine roots of all the delicate plants which come in 
their way. The Tipula olei'ctcea , or the Cabbage Crane Fly, is very 
common, and the perfect insect is of a tawny colour, and its wings 
are rather dusky. The larva has a black head, and the rest of its 
body is of an earthy colour, and the last segment of the body is 
perforated by the respiratory orifices, and has four tubercles upon 
it. The nymph is more compact than the larva, and is usually 
motionless, but it can move with the aid of some spines which are 
upon the body, so as to approach the surface of the soil when 
about to undergo the second metamorphosis. 
