
48 THE INSECT WORLD. 
commonly known as ‘‘ Daddy Longlegs,” &c., and in France as 
“ Tailleurs”’ and “ Couturiéres,” are found in fields at the end of 
September and commencement of October. 
“Although they sometimes fly a considerable distance,” says 
Réaumur, “when the sun is bright and hot, they generally do 
not go far; often, indeed, only along the ground, or rather 
the top of the grass. Sometimes they only use their wings to 
keep them above the level of the herbage, and to take them 
along. Their legs, particularly the hind ones, are disproportionately 
large. They are three times the length of the body, and are to 
these insects what stilts are to the peasants of marshy and in- 
undated countries, enabling them to pass with ease over the higher 
blades of grass.” 
One of the smaller species has been termed culiciformis, on account 
of its resemblance to the gnat. The smaller are more active than 
the larger species which we have mentioned. Not only do they fly 
more rapidly, but there are some kinds which are continually on 
the wing. Inall seasons, even during the winter, at certain hours 
of the day, clouds of small insects are seen in the air, which are 
taken for gnats: they are Tipule. Their flight is worthy of atten- 
tion ; they generally only rise and fall in the same vertical line. 
All these flies come from larve, which resemble very elongated 
worms, having scaly heads, generally furnished with two very 
small conical antenne, and certain other organs, for the pur- 
pose of obtaining food. Their bodies are jointed, without limbs, 
but nevertheless provided with appendages which supply their 
place. The larvee of the various species are of very different habits. 
Some are aquatic, as that of Tipula culiciformis, a small species 
which is very numerous in stagnant waters. 
It is necessary to say a few words about these wormlike larvae, 
which are extremely common. ‘They are of a brilliant red colour, 
and inhabit little oblong bent masses of earth, thickly pierced with 
holes. Each hole allows a worm to extend its head, and the fore- 
most part of its body, out of the cell. They are made of light, 
spongy matters, remains of decayed leaves, &c. These larve 
are transformed into pup, in the cell in which they have lived 
Review ” for the 1st April of this year. The larva of a species (Cecidomyia tritict) 
frequently causes much injury to the wheat.—Ep. 
