ensive Order in respect to the number of distinct species. When, however, the numbers of individuals of the same species are

ers present here, which are chiefly dependent on Diptera for their support. The important function of clearing away refuse matter is almost entirely performed by the members of this Order, a

Nemo

y Cul

late IV., fig. 1,

event the water from entering the spiracle there situated, so that the insect is enabled to respire when hanging from the surface, independently of any muscular action. It is also worthy of note that the intestine discharges itself into this tube, an arrangement which does not exist among the British species. After several moultings the transformation to the pupa state takes place. At this stage the insect (Fig. 1b) becomes much thickened anteriorly, this being the region of the head and thorax of the future gnat; all the limbs are easily detected on a close examination, as with lepidopterous pup?. The upper portion is provided with two short appendages, fulfilling the same function as the air-tube of the larva, and which constantly support the pupa at the surface of the water. The terminal fins enable it to dash through the water with great rapidity when pursued by enemies; at other times it remains perfectly motionless, suspended from the surface of

natural food of both sexes. The male and female mosquito are readily distinguished, the specimen figured belonging to the latter sex; her companion is chiefly remarkable for his plumed antenn? and beautiful palpi, which are very long and gracefully plumed. As many of the harmle

near the seashore, its larva living in brackish pools just above high-water mark. The perfect insect may be also

y Tip

.s.[7] (Plate IV., fig

large masses during that season. Not being very common it is difficult to find, as its colour so closely resembles that of the weed which it always frequents. The pupa (Fig 3b), is not very agile, and is nearly always observed suspended from the surface by

y Tip

, n.s. (Plate IV., fig

osed portions quite dry; in fact the whole integment of the insect appears to have a peculiar power of resisting the water. The pupa (Fig. 2b), is a most beautiful object, its anterior extremity being obtusely thickened and the limbs of the future insect quite discernible. On each side of the thorax the gills form a set of graceful plumes, a much smaller group being also situated at the extremity of its abdomen. In this state the insect remains almost entirely concealed in the burrows previously constructed by the larva, its gills imbibing sufficient air from the surrounding medium, and thus rendering ascension to the surface unnecessary. The water is periodically circulated in the tunnels by violent movements on the part of the pupa. About a day before emergence the insect assumes a peculiar silvery appearance, which is occasioned by the presence of a large quantity of air between the imago and its pupa skin. This air has been first imbibed by the gills and afterw

y Tip

n.s. (Plate IV., fig.

y, firmly affixing their basal segments to the wood, their heads all pointing inwards and forming a small circle. In some cases, where an unusually large gathering has occurred, a number arrange themselves into an outer row, their heads being immediately behind the extremities of the inner group, the whole thus bearing a rough likeness to the radiations of a star-fish. The pupa is very short, and is furnished with two clubbed horns on the thorax for respiration. Its abdominal portions are r

y Tip

icillata (Plat

f the Tineina group, often deceiving the novice in consequence. It is a beautiful object for the microscope, the figure being a care

y Tip

, n.s. (Plate IV., fig

sistency, leaving the harder logs for the wood-boring Coleoptera, which are provided with much stronger jaws. They consequently do not injure the rafters and boards of houses, or other valuable timbers. The pupa (Fig. 5b) is very elongate, reposing in one of the burrows, previously constructed by the larva. It probably breathes

y Tip

(Plate V., fig. 1,

. They mostly feed during the winter, but may be often taken at other times. The pupa (Fig. 1b) is enclosed in a small oval cell, previously excavated by the larva, which also constructs a ready means of escape for the future insect in the form of a small tunnel leading out of one end of its prison to the open air. Through this the pupa wriggles, assisted by the spines, which arm the edges of all the segments; the coronet of hooks at its extremity retaining the insect firmly at the mouth of its burrow while undergoing its final transformation. After numerous twistings and contortions on the part of the pupa, a rent is formed in the thoracic plates, a

y Tip

.s. (Plate V., fig.

s. When divested of its slimy covering, it is anything but an offensive-looking larva, the great air-tubes, which run the whole length of the insect, being very conspicuous, and many of the other internal organs are easily detected owing to its partial transparency. The pupa (Fig. 2b) is enclosed in a small cocoon, having ready access to the air; it is chiefly remarkable for its very large thoracic horns, which are curiously toothe

y Tip

Bolitophila l

spiece,

regular cavities, mostly situated in the banks of streams, where it hangs suspended in a glutinous web which is stretched across the cavity and supported by several smaller threads running right and left, and attached to the sides and ends of the niche. On this the larva invariably rests, but when disturbed immediately glides back along the main thread and retreats into a hol

tended or withdrawn at the will of the larva, which, however, can shut off the light independently of this latter action. Larv? cease to shine on very cold nights, in the daytime, and in a room which is artificially lighted. They gle

h is attached to the web and holds the pupa suspended in the middle of the niche previously inhabited by the larva. The light is emitted from the post

egment of the abdomen, about half as bright as that emanating from a full grown lar

, extending over five years, I have only succeeded in bringi

, which, however, possibly consists of fungi. It should also be mentioned that the larv? are found in

y Tip

sciata (Plate V.,

hey are made. The pupa resembles that of Tipula holochlora, but is rather more attenuated in the body, and the thoracic horns are slightly thicker. It is not enclosed in any cocoon, but lies amongst the powdery wood, wriggling t

y Tip

us (Plate V., fig. 4

inually moving about in search of suitable materials. The pupa is a curious object (Fig. 4b), the two little respiratory horns having a singular resemblance to a pair of ears. It is enclosed in a small oval cell about one inch below the surface of the earth, the insect working its way to the air before emergence. The perfect Rhyphus may be almost regarded as one of our domestic insects, and is seldom found in the open co

y Tip

(Plate V., fig. 5,

ined on the body of the insect by a row of short spines situated in the middle of each segment, which helps to render the larva still more inconspicuous. In this condition it remains for at least eight months, during which time growth takes place very slowly. About September the larv? separate, each being afterwards transformed into a small yellowish pupa (5b), whose abdominal extremity is usually retained within the old skin, thus closely resembling that of the genus Ceratopogon. I have figured this pupa entirely naked, in order to show its characteristics, some of which are rather remarkable, mo

y Tip

s (Plate VI., fig. 1

or a moment the larva then reaches forward, re-affixes the anterior ones, and draws up the posterior as before. Breathing is performed by two spiracles situated on the last abdominal segments near the hind pair of suckers. Two large air-tubes originate from these and run forwards, giving off branches to all parts of the body; they terminate in a number of air-sacs in the thorax. The food of this larva consists of animalcul?, which are no doubt obtained by drawing the two ciliated appendages rapidly through the water several times in succession, their contents being afterwards gathered up by the smaller organs and passed into the mouth. When about to assume the pupa state the insect covers itself with a gluti

Brac

y Tab

ar (Plate V

y of Dipterous insects, but am at present quite unacquainted with its life-his

y Bom

color (Plate

d motion. Their man?uvres in avoiding the strong gusty wind, so often prevalent in early summer, are also interesting; the insects play upon the wing whilst the air is quiet, but if a breeze springs up they instantly settle on the nearest bush, rising to renew their sports when it is again calm. These flies are rather variable in colour, some specimens being dark brown, whilst others are more or less covered with greyi

e white maggot, rather robust, and possessing a small head. It inhabits the dense moss growing on the trunks of trees in the forest, feeding on the roots of these plants, and finally forming an o

y Asi

Plate VI., fig. 4,

its rotten wood, chiefly feeding upon the moist, powdery portions. It is usually somewhat sluggish, but when disturbed hops about with electrical rapidity. The head is very minute, and the elongate body consists of twenty segments, a number very unusual among larv?, the normal number being twelve exclusive of the head. It li

Strat

niger (Plate

is probably aquatic, but I have not yet observed it, although its habits would, no doubt, be very in

Acroc

stris, n.s. (Pla

in February. At present I have only taken three specimens, viz., two in Wellingt

y Syr

te VII., fig. 3, 3

ects grow very slowly, occupying several weeks to attain maturity. Their mode of capturing the aphides is very curious, and is, briefly, as follows:-The larva lies in the midst of a number of aphides, and it occasionally happens that some of them crawl over it. On feeling an aphis touch its back the larva instantly darts out its long, pointed head and strikes its prey with the apex, which is enveloped in a quantity of very sticky mucus constantly ejected from the mouth. On the aphis being thus captured the larva withdraws its head into the hinder segments of its body and devours all the juicy portio

y Syr

ulatus (Plate

no means common. It is very fond of the white rata flowers, where it may be taken, if anywher

y Syr

s (Plate VII., fig. 1

h a pair of minute feet, and the head is also provided with two small appendages which are supposed to be the outlets through which the exhausted air is discharged by the larva. When mature this insect leaves the water, forming a small oval cell in the neighbouring moist earth, in which it lies with its long tail folded along the breast. The skin then gradually hardens, and it is finally transformed into the pupa shown at Fig. 1b, the conical pair of breathing-tubes on the thorax being slowly protruded from two hardly perceptible warts, whilst the telescopic apparatus shrinks up, its functions being at an end. A variable time, dependent upon the s

ange-yellow and black abdomen. It is rather local, but extremely abundant wherever found. The latter has a superficial resemblance to some of the smaller blowflies (Musca), but may

y Mus

stor (?) (Plat

round Wellington. The life-history is at present unknown, but

y Mus

erianus (Plate

grows and eats in the ordinary way, until it has assumed the chrysalis state, when the maggot eats its way out and changes into a dark-brown pupa. In this condition the parasite is protected by the web

y Mus

ginatus (Plate

one host, the smaller caterpillars only harbouring a single individual, while a large larva will frequently contain three or four. This species has been bred from the following Lepidoptera: Mamestra composita, M. ustistriga and M. mutans. It also occurs in the curious ?ceticus omnivorus, being fou

y Mus

rimaculata (Pla

seven lines in length. The pupa is buried at a considerable depth in the ground, the larva having descended before changing. The duration of this, and in fact of all the stages of the insect, de

y Mus

mica (Plate V

e hungry individual, who perhaps is making his dinner off a mutton chop which the fly has selected as a home for her offspring. These larv? are all produced from distinct ova, which hatch before being laid, as I have often proved, by removing them from the insect's abdomen, and watching the young larva emerge from a minute elliptical w

ormer is probably a world-wide insect, every ship teeming with it, but the latter is at present rather scarce and is usually found in t

y Mus

gma (Plate V

us shrubs. It is very sluggish and may often be captured between the fingers without the aid of a net. Its life-history is at present unknown

y Mus

.s. (Plate VII.,

buried in the earth, near the remains of their host, and are light brown in colour, with the segments much more distinct than is usual (Fig. 15a). From these the perfect flies proceed in about a month's time. The occurrence of this insect as a parasite in Coleoptera is not common, but I know of one instance in which a number of these little flies were produced from a pupa of Uloma tenebrionides (Plate II., Figs. 2, 2a, 2b), which I was rearing at the time (page 29). In this case it is difficult to understand how the female contrives to deposit her eggs in a horny beetle larva which

y Mus

ralis (Plate

e of the rocks that it is necessary to run past them in order to avoid being positively suffocated by the countless multitudes which fly up into one's face. This insect must be regar

y ?st

s, n.s. (Plate

Dipterous insects. I am at present quite ignorant as to its life-history which would, no doubt, be very interesti

posited until they become pup?, thus undergoing all their transformations within the body of the parent, while the Pulicina comprise the well-k