158 
NE UR OPT ERA. 
are rather delicate insects, moth-like in appearance, but with the wings 
sloped over the abdomen when at rest. The antennee are long. We 
are aware of no observations on these insects in India, other than the 
descriptions of species. Their biology appears to be untouched. In 
general, the larvae live in fresh water in cases, made of a great variety of 
materials, including silk, stones, vegetable matter, shells of molluscs, etc.; 
each species makes its special form of case, in which the larva lives. 
The larva is somewhat caterpillar-like, with a terminal pair of processes 
or hooks to fasten it to the case, with blood-gills of a variety of kinds to 
secure respiration. They are believed to be vegetarian, and while 
one at least is injurious to the “ water-cress ” grown in Europe, 
none are known to be injurious to India. 
The student of this group should read the chapter in Sharp’s Insects 
and the account in Miall’s Aquatic Insects ; it is to be hoped that the 
family will be investigated in India ; the 
number of plain’s species appears to be 
small, but very little is known and the 
group has not been studied. Wood- 
Mason recorded a species which produced 
460 living young ones when artificially 
stimulated. Apparently this is the normal 
habit of this Caddisfly, which is provi¬ 
sionally named by him Notanatolica 
vivipara (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1890, 6 
ser.,Vol. VI, p. 189). Morton describes a 
Hydroptilid from the Khasis as I thy tricilia 
violacea , remarking that it is the largest 
of the sub-family with an expanse of 
12-14 m.m. (E. M. M. 1902, p. 283). He 
also describes Khasi Rhyacophilids in 
Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1900, p. 1 . In 
all, some 61 species are recorded from Fig. 83. -Caddis larva, in case. 
India, Burma and Ceylon, the majority * 25. From balsam slide. 
from the last locality, most of the remain¬ 
der from the hills. 
