BRITISH DRAGONFLIES. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Included within the somewhat heterogeneous assem- 

 blage of insects usuall)' brought together under the 

 natural order Nairoptcra are several well-defined 

 groups, which ought perhaps to be looked upon as of 

 ordinate rank in themselves. One such group is that 

 known scientifically as the Odoiiata^ so named, no doubt, 

 by Fabriciust on account of the toothed mandibles ot 

 the insects comprising it. 



Amongst country people and others, who have be- 

 stowed on these insects but a passing attention, names 

 indicative of dislike or fear seem always to have been 

 given as the result of their cursory notice. " Dragonflies," 

 in consequence of their brilliant, scaly armour ; " Devil's 

 Darning Needles," in allusion to their long, pointed body; 



* Greek, o^ovs, oSovros = a tooth ; though, seeing that ihe stem of the 

 word is dSovr, one would have expected Odoutata. 

 t Fabr., Ent. Syst. ii., p. vi., 373, 1793. 



