Marvels of the Universe Uy 
should be said that it is really due to the non-development of the hinder pair, of which the vestiges 
may be seen ina pair of minute organs called balancers, just behind the base of the developed 
wings. When the insect is flying these balancers, as well as the wings, are kept in rapid vibration, 
but what purpose they actually serve is not very clear. It has been suggested that, having lost 
their function as wings, they have been developed into sense organs. 
There are at least two kinds of Crane Fly to be found in England (some describe a third) : the 
Tipula oleracea and the Tipula paludera, but their life-history and habits seem identical, save that 
the former appears for the most part from May to August, whilst the latter is mostly met with from 
July to September. From this it seems that in August both varieties are fairly common, and this 
accounts for the greater number of these 
insects that are met with in that month. 
It should be mentioned in passing 
that the male is smaller than the ; 
female, and has a_ blunt-ended body, \ vi 
whilst that of the female terminates in 
a point which is, in fact, the egg-laying 
apparatus. 
Passing over the silly and apparently 
aimless behaviour of the Daddy, one 
must take note of the curious way it 
has of casting off its legs or a portion 
of one upon the slightest touch. The 
accident seems to cause it no incon- 
venience whatever, for it flies away as 
merrily as ever. This matter will be 
referred to later. 
Further, mention should be made 
of the curious way this insect has of 
depositing its eggs, which are often / \ 
several hundreds in number, in shape { 
always elliptical and black in colour. 
Instead of depositing them while rest- 
ing on all its feet, in the ordinary 
horizontal position, the Crane Fly Feigao BER aad [Ww Besehnen: 
moves over the place she selects to lay CRANE FLY, 
NS GEES THN, vp OATAGRE asamp Nt TNE OE Ge hee 
maintaining her body vertical by the behind the wings, which are supposed to be vestiges of a second pair 
hind-legs, or as much as remains of % “"** 
them, and raising a pair of fore-legs up in the air wherewith to balance herself. In point of fact, 
the ovipositor and the two hind-legs resting on the ground remind one of a three-legged stool ! 
Turning to the structure of the Daddy-long-legs, we see above an entire male specimen 
laid out for study with the microscope. The head apparatus is shown highly magnified (page 
1128), and it will there be noticed that beside the proboscis lie four other bodies that look like 
antenne. Three of these are magnified more in the lower photo, and their terminations show great 
beauty in design. Which are true antenne is difficult to say. 
Near by them, in the upper photo, we see the large compound eyes, which are apparently 
grossly out of proportion to the rest of the body. 
It is to the curious arrangement of the joints of the legs, however, that our special attention 
should be directed. Two are shown on page 1129. If casually looked at the joint resembles what 
