Insect Study 



383 



A common dragon-fly. 



Comstock's Manual. 



It is while we, ourselves, are dreaming in the sun by the margin of 



some pond, that these swift children of the air seem but a natural part 



of the dream. Yet if we 



waken to note them more 



closely, we find many things 



very real to interest us. 



First, they are truly children 



of the sun, and if some cloud 



throws its shadow on the 



waters for some moments, 



the dragon-flies disappear as 



if they wore the invisible 



cloak of the fairy tale. 



Only a few of the common 



species fly alike in shade and 



sunshine, and early and late. 



The best known of these is 



the big, green skimmer, which does not care so much for ponds, but 



darts over fields and even dashes into our houses, now and then. 



Probably it is this species which has started all of the dragon-fly 



slander, for it is full of curiosity, and will hold itself on wings whirring too 



rapidly to even make a blur, while it examines our faces or inspects the 



pictures or furniture or other objects w r hich attract it. 



Another thing we may note when dreaming by 

 the pond is that the larger species of dragon-flies 

 keep to the higher regions above the water, while 

 the smaller species and the damsel-flies flit near its 

 surface. Well may the smaller species keep below 

 their fierce kindred, otherwise they would surely 

 be utilized to sate their hunger, for these insects are 

 well named dragons, and dragons do not stop to 

 inquire whether their victims are relatives or not. 

 It is when they are resting, that the dragon and 

 damsel-flies reveal their most noticeable differences. 

 The dragon-fly extends both wings as if in flight 

 while it basks in the sun or rests in the shadow. 

 There is a big, white-bodied species called the 

 whitetail which slants its wings forward and down 

 when it rests; but the damsel-flies fold their wings 

 together over the back when resting. The damsel- 

 flies have more brilliantly colored bodies than do 

 the dragon-flies, many of them being iridescent 

 green or coppery; they are more slender and 

 delicate in form. The damsel-fly has eyes which 

 are so placed on the sides of the head as to make 

 it look like a cross on the front of the body fastened 

 to the slender neck, and with an eye at the tip of 

 each arm. There are very many species of dragon 



and damsel-flies, but they all have the same general habits. 



The dragon-fly nymphs are the ogres of the pond or stream. To any- 

 one unused to them and their ways in the aquarium, there is a surprise 



n store, so ferocious are they in their attacks upon creatures twice 



A damsel-fly. 



Outdoor Studies 

 Needham. 



