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VOL. V. LONDON, ONT., NOVEMBER, 1873. No - 11 



ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 



p. THE DRAGON ELY— Libellula trimaculata, DcGeer. 



BY J. WILLIAMS, LONDON, ONTARIO. 



This insect belongs to the order Neuroptera, which term signifies 

 nerve-veined, so called in consideration of the netted structure of the 

 wings. The members of the particular family (Libellulidcz) to which our 

 specimen belongs, rival many of the Butterflies in their graceful shapes 

 and brilliant colouring, while they excel them in rapidity of flight. These 

 insects have received various popular names in different countries — the 

 French call them Demoiselles, the Germans Florfliegen or Gauze-flies, or 

 Wasserjungfern or Virgins of the Water, while the English style them 

 Dragon-flies, Horse-stingers or Devil's Darning-needles. The English 

 terms, although lesss poetical than those of our European friends, are, we 

 believe, in a measure, more appropriate to the private character of these 

 insects, who fully earn the title of Dragon-flies, although they are not 

 Horse-stingers ; of the third title we can say nothing. 



Our specimen, Libellula trimaculata (fig. 19) when full grown, may 



Fig. 19. 



be described as follows : — The body is much elongated and cylindrical, 

 and attains a length of two inches, in average specimens. The head is 



