8 British Drai^w/ flics 



Dragonfly's wing it is difficult to say ! A similar 

 parasite has been noticed by the author on the thorax 

 of PyrrJiosoma iijn/iphiila,^ and on that of Isclinnra 

 elcgans. 



The Sundew (Droscra), into whose economy Darwin 

 has entered so fully in his " Insectivorous Plants, "t 

 sets a trap of gum-tipped glands, and sometimes secures 

 such large game as the small blue Dragonflies by 

 entangling their wings amongst its tentacles. xA. single 

 plant of Droscra rotiDidifoUa, growing by the side of 

 a pond in the fir-woods near Esher, was once found 

 having caught no less than four specimens — three living 

 males of Enallagiua cyatJiigcnim and one dead female, 

 no doubt of the same species. J 



Generally speaking, Dragonflies must be sought for 

 near water, especially lakes, ponds, slow streams, and 

 ditches, not only because their eggs are deposited and 

 their young live in that element, but also because in 

 its vicinity insect-life — and therefore food — is usually 

 more abundant than elsewhere. Nevertheless they are 

 often found a considerable distance from water, and in 

 some cases, soon after emergence and before their 

 colours are mature, seem to prefer to keep awa}' from 

 its immediate neighbourhood. 



Very limited powers of flight are possessed b\' the 

 smaller Dragonflies, and in consequence the}' do not 

 wander far from home ; and even the larger ones, 

 whose flight is as powerful as that of the others is 

 weak, usually confine their journcyings to a very 

 restricted range. But on occasion a few species for 



* Entom., 1897, p. 283. t I'ide 2ik1 edition, ch.i]). i., p. 2. 



X Kiitoiii., 189O, pp. 99, 257. 



