so 



British Dragonjlies. 



Fig. 22. — Lateral view of 

 Imago. 



A : //., Labium ; /)'., Labrum ; ;;., Nasus ; 

 /. , Frons; an., Antenna; y., Vertex; e.. Eye; 

 p., Prothorax ; p.n., Pro-notum ; his./., 

 Meso-thorax ; tns.n., Meso-notuni ; ms.s., 

 Meso-sternum ; mt.t., Meta-thorax ; mt.}i., 

 Meta-notuni ; mi.s., Meta-sternum ; /./., 

 Fore-leg; m.l., Mid-leg; h.l., Hind-leg; 

 /.w.. Fore-wing; h.iu., Hind-wing; an., 

 auricle; i-io, Segments of Abdomen; 

 n.a.a., Upper Anal Appendages: I. a. a., 

 Lower Anal Appendage. 



B: 8-II, Distal Segments of Abdomen 

 of Female ; a. a., Anal Appendages ; o., 

 Ovipositor. 



C : c, Coxa ; tr.. Trochanter ; fv., 

 Femur; ti., Tibia; t.j., Tarsal Joints. 



D : References same as in A, except 

 .s., ro-sternuin. 



Dragonfly's legs do not 

 appear suited for walking, 

 and that in fact it does 

 not much use them for 

 that purpose. It will be 

 further noticed that when 

 projected forward they all 

 meet at about the same 

 level in front of the 

 mouth. Now, there is 

 very little doubt, though 

 on account of the rapid 

 flight it is impossible to 

 observe the fact, that the 

 Dragonfly, with the assist- 

 ance of the rows of 

 bristles, makes a trap of 

 its legs in which to catch 

 its prey upon the wing, 

 and that the pre}- so 

 caught is by the length 

 of the legs brought 

 readily in front of the 

 mouth, which b}^ its 

 great expansibilit}' is 

 opened to receive it. 

 This is certainly what 

 occurs when an insect 

 is offered to a Dragon- 

 fly held captive in the 

 hand by the wings. (See 

 page 7). 



