It grows fast and moults several times, and when winter comes it hides away, only to come forth at the first breath of spring and continue its eating.
Like other larvæ that live under water, it does its breathing by means of gills, and these gills are in little tufts just above the base of each leg.
It lives under stones, which is why it is called the stone fly, and it slides quickly around a corner when you lift up its stone.
Fish are very fond of it, and hunt it as eagerly as it hunts larvæ. Since it makes good bait for brook trout, its life is always in danger. It finishes its growth in early summer, and emerges from its larval skin as a perfect winged insect.
Yes, indeed, John, you can often find dozens of the cast-off skins of the stone flies along the brook sides in the month of June.
The stone flies are harmless little people, and we should never kill one needlessly.
