70 LIFE STORTES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



of the air, and this part carries strong veins. The 

 outer and lower part of the wing is softer and 

 easily moved, acting as a "rudder," and capable of 

 rapid vibrations. It is acknowledged that certain 

 types of aeroplanes were %uilt after the principle 

 of the working of a dragon-fly's wing. 



The legs of a dragon-fly are weak structures in 

 comparison to the rest of the body, and from ob- 

 servation we know they are not used so much as a 

 means of locomotion but mainly for clasping when 

 at rest. The larger dragon-flies (Anisoptera) range 

 in size from 2 to 6 inches across the wings. The 

 colour of the body varies from a greyish-brown to 

 a brilliant red. The more sombre tints are fre- 

 quently relieved by markings of blue and green. 



The abdomen is very elongate and narrow, and 

 i? made up of 10 segments. It terminates in a pair 

 of anal appendages. 



The eggs are laid either in reeds, or in leaves or 

 stems of water plants — or else they are dropped 

 into the water. 



Dr. Tillyard records that of Australian dragon- 

 flies the damsel-flies (Zygoptera) and some of the 

 larger dragon-flies (Anisoptera) place the eggs 

 within water weeds, while all the others just drop 

 them into the water as they skim over its surface, 

 and dip down every now and again, when the eggs 

 are washed oft* the tip of the abdomen. 



Towards the end of summer we watched with 

 interest the egg-laying process in the species Ana.v- 

 papiiensis. The male supported the female by hold- 

 ing her around the neck by means of the anal 



