<iiii^ri:!{ will. 



ounrij VIII xnnionr.iiA 



TiiK winst, in thii ordrr o( itukTi.o, are iiinde up of a tinr network, nicnil>ninoii.s, and 

 usiwlly nukrd and without down or M-al«-.i : ihcy arc KulMtjual ur ojual. Sjuii'tiiut-s tlic 

 lowrr wimp arr hruadcr than the uppiT ; but, if narruwiT, thry an* lunger. The mouth ia 

 flitrd in «>nH- families for nia^tiratiun, parlirulariy in the liltcllulida-, whirh arc fumi<«hed 

 with transveru'ly niovuble jaws. The iilMJonicn is usually lonc< but is destitute of n Ntine. 

 The anlenua* are not uuiforiu in thediflVreut families : in sonu- the> are lon^ ; in •t!.. i>. 

 short. They have two or three simple eyes. The trunk is fornu-tlof three .M-giuents • 1 -. '.\ 

 united : the abdomen Lh sesitlle. The lana lias six fii-et. The metamorphosis b not alwajs 

 complete. 



The order contains several well-known families, ns the dragontlies, mnyflies, while anis, 

 and the ant-lion flies. In all these families, as well as in those not yet mentioned, the wings 

 an> formed of a fine network of neri'ures, so arranged in the minute details of structure 

 as to constitute a creat nunib«T of areolets of much l>eauty. 



In this order there is one lamily, the /fmii/i«i«, which are extremely Intcrestinit in their 

 economy and habits, as well as an instance of a remarkable developnjent of the faculty of 

 instinct : they are social, and live in lan;e communities ; while most of Ihe other families 

 arc solitary, and do not construct habitations for the common convenience and defence. 



Libellulidae. 



LiaELi.i-LiD.r. is the family name of the drairnnjlifs ; they are ln!»ects which become familiar 

 to every bo<ly, and are frequently called tinminfrnttdlct or drviti-nttdlrs. Tlieir heads and 

 eyes, especially the latter, are always larjte : their bodies are long ; the thorax Is thick 

 and strong, and the aUIomen long and rather slender, though not always so, and is ter- 

 minated by two inHrticuIate<l apjH-ndagt'S. The antrnnte are short. They have three ocelli : 

 two lateral om^s, and one seate<l in the nie<lian line. The mouth is well fomie«I, and the 

 mandibles nw strong and horny. They have four wings, which, when at rest, axe extended 

 horizontally or carried over the alxlomen. 



