CHAPTER IV. 



THE NYMPH. 



Unlike the Lcpidoptcra and some other grou]:)s of 

 insects, the Dragonflies, as previous!}' mentioned, do not 

 pass through three distinct stages of existence — the 

 larva, the pupa, and the imago. They have an " im- 

 perfect metamorphosis " ; that is, the first two stages 

 are merged into one, and to it the name of iiyuiph (or 

 larva-nymph) is usually given. Gorgeous colours and a 

 slender graceful form, accompanied often b}- rapid 

 flight, would probably be looked upon as especially 

 distinctive of a Dragonfly ; yet in the nymph stage 

 the insect is in general characterised by dingy colourings 

 slow and laboured movements, and ungainly, if not 

 hideous, form. 



The tints assumed range from bright green, through 

 yellowish-green, to brown, or even almost black, 

 usually, but not cjuite always, unaccompanied b}- any 

 conspicuous markings. General ground-colour goes for 

 very little, for of two individuals of the same species, 

 especially among the Agrionijuc, one may be bright 

 green and another quite dark brown, and probabl}- the 

 same range of tints may be borne by the same 

 individual at different times. Colouring, in fact, seems 



