A. E. Anderson-Maskell, Children whith the Fishes, Boston, D. Lothrop Company, 1887, p. 622-623.

« O Tousin Grace, they’re tunnin’ little fish with shells, ticks and little bids of ‘tones all ober ‘em ! » exclaimed Rose.

« Frank says he don’t believe that they are fish at all, » say May.

« then what are they ? » said Grace, taking the cup, and carefully examining the subjects.

« They look more like some kind of a worm, » said Frank.

« You are right, for they are Caddis worms. They are the larvae of the Caddice fly. »

« Where they hatched with those shells and sticks on their backs ? asked May.

« No, they made those cases for themselves. They are the house which the little worms live in. »

« How did they stick them together ? » asked May.

« By silken threads secreted in their own bodies. The insect, in a perfect state, is a fly with four hairymembranous wings and long antennae. They frequent marshy places, being very active in their movements, though awkward in their flight. They belong to the familly Phryganidae and to the order Neuraptera. »

« if you will wait until I go to my room, » said Mr Dumas, » I will bring down a microscope that we may examine these littles cases more minutely. One case is composed entirely of shells, another of bark, and this one of sticks and seeds, » added Mr Sumas, handing over the microscope to Grace.

Then the children took their turns at the glass, and were much entertained.