120 THE BUTTERFLY HUNTERS. 



dae are divided into three subdivisions, the distinguishing 

 points of which I shall not describe to you, as the differ- 

 ence is so sHght you would not be able to understand it. 

 There are a great many varieties. The most common kind 

 is the Common Agrion. Here is a very fine specimen. 

 You see it has a large head. Its body and tail are black, 

 striped with bright green. The wings expand nearly four 

 inches. They look like delicate lace, but do not break 

 easily. .Each wing is marked with three brown or black 

 blotches on the front edge. There is another kind called 

 Gigantic Agrion. Its head is large and its eyes immense. 

 It has a yellow face and huge hairy jaws which open and 

 shut upon its prey with great rapidity. Its body is gener- 

 ally black, and sometimes marked with yellow spots. The 

 wings are like those of the Common Agrion. The Beauti- 

 ful Agrion is smaller. It has an azure-blue body marked 

 with black, and the markings on the wings are delicate 

 blue. This is one of the prettiest Dragon-FUes we have. 

 Others belonging to this family are red with pale-yellow 

 wings, or black striped with blue or yellow. The varia- 

 tions of color are almost infinite. Some males are armed 

 with curved forceps, which look very savage, but are harm- 

 less. 



"The Libellulidse have broader wings than the Agrioni- 

 dse, and during repose they are placed horizontally. The 

 males of this family are all armed \\rith forceps. The 



