Introduction. 5 



flowers, the smaller Dragonflies, dressed in hues of 

 vivid blue or crimson, sometimes rise in countless 

 swarms before the footsteps of the astonished invader 

 of their realms. 



To some the search for Dragonflies may appeal for 

 another reason. Even more than is the case with 

 other insects, there is a tantalising uncertaint}- as to 

 what ma}' be the result of a da}''s collecting. Aiinx 

 impcratoi\ Ortlictrniii caiiccllatniii, or several other 

 desiderata may be on the wing and perfectly well in 

 evidence, but the end of the day may find the collecting- 

 boxes quite innocent of specimens. This uncertaintx' it 

 is which gi\es the zest to fishing, hunting, and similar 

 sports, and which adds a perfecth' legitimate interest 

 to the collection of all kinds of natural objects, where 

 the specimens are obtained by the collector's own 

 personal exertions in the field, and not b\' the length 

 of his purse. 



Of Dragonflies — the British examples at an}' rate — • 

 it may pretty safeh' be affirmed that the\' are enemies 

 to no one, notwithstanding the panic that the uninvited 

 presence of a large specimen sometimes creates. On the 

 contrar)', they must be looked upon as being eminently 

 useful from the immense numbers of other insects they 

 destroy, their food being entirely of an animal nature in 

 all stages of their existence ; and the}- are the more 

 useful in that the\' will not touch an\-thing that is 

 not actuall}- living and mo\-ing. The fisherman may 

 possibh' object to so general a statement with regard 

 to their innocence, and perhaps it is true that certain 

 nx'mphs ma}- feed on the ver}- }'oung fr}- of fish if they 

 can catch them, though there is little doubt that on 



