NEUROPTERA. 



55 



received a specimen of that hornet-like insect, the Sir ex 

 gigas, from an acquaintance who sent it to me with the 

 statement that it had attacked and stung the horses he 

 was driving at the time. Probably the horse had been 

 alarmed by the sudden appearance of the insects, which 

 have, however, no power to harm. 



In France, from their light and graceful motions, 

 Dragon-flies, as we have seen, are called Demoiselles ; 

 in Germany, from their water-birth, they have the name 

 of Wasser-jungfern, " Water-virgins," or Flor-flieger, 

 " Gauze-flies," in allusion to their net-work wings. 



LiBELLULA Larva and Insect emerging from Pupa. 



Dragon- flies have a keen sight, and fly with amazing 

 rapidity, now forwards, now backwards, now darting 



