ZOOLOGY. 193 



marrow in the larger animals, we are inclined to doubt, as 

 it may be separated, the head removed, and the animal will 

 still continue to live, to run, and even copulate ; some kinds 

 have been known to live for days without their heads. The 

 formation of Insects is so peculiar to themselves, that w© 

 have no parallel in any of the other classes. Some of the 

 animals in the class Vermes^ may be cut and divided almost 

 ad infinitum, and each part will eventually become a perfect 

 animal ; some insects, without this reptoductive power, 

 will bear dividing, and still continue to live, and perform 

 most of the various functions with which they are endued : 

 the common Dragon Fly, (Libellula varia) will live for 

 days without its head ; and if instead of the head, the 

 abdomen be taken away, the animal seems to suffer no ma- 

 terial injury, as it continues to feed, run, and tly, nearly as 

 usual, the latter function is but awk^vardly performed, but if 

 in lieu of the real abdomen, a piece of straw, paper, or any 

 substance that will restore the proper balance be affixed to 

 the thorax, the animal flies with its usual alacrity, and has 

 been known to survive some days in this state. This 

 Insect is of a very voracious nature, and has been known to 

 feed under circumstances, that had we not authority for re- 

 peating them, we should not have ventured on the following 

 account. * A gentleman being engaged in collecting Insects, 

 caught a specimen of the common Dragon-Fly, which he 

 fastened down in his collecting box, with a large pin thrust 

 through its thorax ; when, to his astonishment, he observed 

 the Dragon-Fly held in its forceps a fly, which was still 

 struggling for liberty, this it soon devoured, without exhi- 



* Philosophy of Natural History, by Charles Fothcrgill. 

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