


430 THE INSECT WORLD. 
habits ; as, for instance, case-worms, from their living in a case 
covered with little bits of wood or sand, which they draw after 
them as they go. Their scientific name, Phryganea, signifies 
fagot.* The Phryganee, in the adult state, very much resemble 
moths. They approach them in having rudimentary mouths, and 
wings without articulations, but furnished with small hairs, analo- 
gous to the scales of Lepidoptera. They may be said to form a 
sort of connection between the Lepidoptera and Neuroptera. They 
have been called Mouches papilionacées, or Papilionaceous flies. 
The eggs laid by the female Péryganea are enclosed in gelatinous 
capsules, which swell in the water and attach themselves to stones, 
&e. The larva has the appearance of a little worm without feet. 
It is soon hatched, and resembles at first a little black line, and 
may be easily reared in an aquarium. The operation of making 
the silky case which it draws after it, and which protects its abdo- 
men, may then be observed. When it is disturbed, it retreats 
entirely within its case. The interior is smooth, and lined with 
mud; on the exterior it is fortified with stones, &c. 
The Phryganea rhombica (Figs. 414, 415, 416) furnishes its 
case with bits of wood or grass, arranged as shown in Fig. 417. 
Some species arrange these bits of wood and grass in spiral, others 
in parallel series. The Phryganca flavicornis covers its dwelling 
with little shells. ‘These kinds of dress,’ says Réaumur, “are 
very pretty, but they are also excessively singular. A savage 
who, instead of being covered with 
furs, should be covered with musk rats, 
moles, or other entire animals, would 
have on an extraordinary costume ; 
this is in some sort the case with our 
larve.” Other Phryganee employ for 
constructing the case which serves 
them as a dwelling, sand and small 
pebbles ; each species always employ- 
ing the same materials, unless they are entirely deprived of 
these and obliged to employ others. These cases protect the 
larvee against the voracity of their enemies. The larve have a 
scaly head; and the three first rings of their body are harder than 

Fig. 417.—Regular cases of a Phryganea. 
* From opvyanor, a stick,—Ep. 

