British Dragouflics. 



"Horse-stingers," owing to the custom of the rustic mind 

 to jump at conclusions, and think ill of the little-known 

 ■ — -such are the opprobrious titles that in common parlance 

 have been bestowed upon some of the most beautiful, 

 and at the same time least understood, of British insects/'" 



" Dragons," indeed, are the larger kinds to the 

 multitude of smaller insects, whose life is not seldom 

 cut short to provide them a meal. The second name 

 is clearly but an indication of dislike ; and to anyone 

 acquainted with the habits of Dragonflies, a reason 

 need scarcely be given for the bestowal of the third 

 name, for they have a way, when handled, of turning 

 the tip of their abdomen under them in a very threatening 

 manner. As, however, no vestige of a sting exists, they 

 are, of course, perfectly harmless in that respect, though 

 they often make attempts, more or less unsuccessful, to 

 bite the hand that holds them. Still, they ma}- be 

 handled without fear, as their jaws are but little 

 adapted for attacking an extended surface. 



Neglected though this group of insects has always 

 been by the majority of entomologists, yet it is really 

 an extremely interesting one, not only because the 

 individuals comprising it are often large and alwa}'s 

 beautiful, but also because in their life-histories there is 

 many a gap which it should be the pleasing dut}- of 

 the entomologist to fill up. That he will find more 

 difficulties in his work than those which confront the 

 butterfly- and moth-collector, cannot be denied ; as, 

 however, difficulties only spur on the genuine naturalist 

 to overcome them, we shall find here but another 



* Calvert says that in Philadelphia they are also popularly called Snake- 

 doctors and Mosquito Hawks. (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xx., 1893.) 



