DRAGON-FLY. 
‘M6 
The Libellida Virgo is one of the most elegant 
of the European insects; it is much smaller than 
the Libellula varia, and is distinguished by its 
very slender, long, cylindric body, which, as well 
as the head and thorax, is usually either of a 
bright but deep golden-green, or else of a deep 
gilded-blue: the wings are transparent at the base 
and tips, but are each marked in the middle by a 
very large oval patch or bed of deep blackish or 
violet blue, accompanied with iridescent hues ac- 
cordintj to the direction of the lisrht: sometimes 
the wings are entirely violet-black, without the 
least appearance of transparency either at the 
base or tips; and sometimes they are altogether 
transparent, without any appearance of the violet- 
black patch which distinguishes the majority of 
specimens; and lastly the insect sometimes ap- 
pears with transparent wings, but shaded with a 
strong cast of gilded greenish brown, each being 
marked by a small white speck at the exterior 
edge, near the tip. All these varieties may often 
be ebsei’ved in the same field, or flying within a 
small distance of each otlw on the borders of 
their natal stream;^ The larva of this species is of 
a very slender form, and has: the tail terminated 
by three large oblong-oval leaf-shaped append- 
ages. Like^those of the two preceding species, 
it is very common in stagnant waters and in 
riv'ulets. 
A much smaller 'Species than the preceding, and 
ecjually common, is the Llbdlida Fudla of Lin- 
nu'us. Tin's varies much in colour, but is gene- 
