1288 



Rural School Leaflet 



has at the rear end of its body three long, platehke gills filled with 

 breathing tubes, which extract air from the water. 



All the n\-mphs grow by shedding 

 their skins as often as they become 

 too small. When they finally have 

 completed their growth, they crawl 

 up and cling fast to some object 

 above the surface of the water and 

 shed their n^Tnph skins. Hence- 

 forth they dart about on strong 

 wings above the stream or the 

 pond in the bottom of which was 

 their early home. The dragon flies 

 are very beneficial to mankind, for, 

 as they fly swiftly, they capture 

 and eat many mosquitoes. 



The dragon fly and the damsel fly 

 nymphs may be found on the bot- 

 tom of any shallow pond or brook, 

 and may be placed in an aquaritmi 

 where their habits may be observed. 

 However, only one should be put 

 in a jar, since, if two are put in the same receptacle, the larger will eat 

 the smaller. A jelly tumbler makes the best aquarium for one of these 

 creatures. A little sand should be placed on the bottom and a small water 

 weed should be planted in the sand. After the timibler has been filled 

 with water, it is ready to receive the captive n>Tnph. Often the trans- 

 formation from the nymph to the winged adult will take place in the 

 schoolroom, and it is well worth while taking the time to have children 

 watch this interesting process. 



Nymph oj dragon fly 



1 



Nymph oj damsel fly 



