10 
The sexual organs of the male are contained in the ninth seg- 
ment or ring of the body, (pl. 1, f. 10, 12a) whilst those of the 
female are in the last. 
These insects may often be seen flitting together over ponds, in 
the form of a loop; for the male, after hovering about the female, 
seizes her by the neck with the appendages terminating his ab- 
domen, and by the apparatus at the base of it, (p/. 1, 7. 16) whilst 
the female bends her body upwards and round; and from the pecu- 
liar position, it was generally believed that this was their usual 
mode of conexion;* but Dr. Herman Burmeister states, that it 
‘is merely an expression of mutual inclination,” and that “ the 
males fly at sitting females and rapidly copulate with them, like 
the flies,’”’+ which fact has been confirmed by other observers. 
The habits of these interesting insects are but little known, but 
the females, which are usually smaller than the males, deposit their 
eggs in the water; and, according to the account given by Mr. 
Patterson,t the females descend some inches below the surface and 
deposit them. 
The Larva (pl. 1, f 19, 20, 21) somewhat resemble the perfect 
insects and live for about a twelvemonth entirely in the water, 
generally crawling at the bottom or on plants, and feeding with 
great voracity on other aquatic insects, and even on animals and 
small fish, || for the capture of which they are wonderfully provided 
with a singular spoon-shaped apparatus (pl. 1, 7 18, 20) in lieu of 
a lower lip, which, when not extended, covers the face of the insect 
like a mask, but is capable of being extended and unfolded with 
the greatest rapidity, the prey being seized with the pincers of the 
upper part. 
The Larve of Ashna and Libellula breathe through branchiz 
situated in the colon, through which water is imbibed and rejected 
with bubbles of air; and they are also thus much assisted, if they 
do not entirely swim by this means, as their legs are then laid close 
to their sides, and they move at intervals. (Pl. 1, f. 17.) 
Mons. Poupart, although he states this action was like breathing, 
imagined that it was a process of cleansing ; for he says, ‘‘ When 
the young larve is ready to quit its case, it dilates its belly that the 
water may enter, then it compresses itself to circulate the water, 
which it expresses and shoots out a great way. - 
“ It continues this action with great force for sometime * * * * 
which may be compared to breathing * * * * 
‘¢ My opinion is, that the animal does this in order to cleanse its 
* See Philos. Trans., vol. 47, p. 4. 
+ Mannal of Entomology. Translated from the German by Shuckard, 
London ; 1836. p. 218. 
{ Natural History of Insects, mentioned in Shakspear. 
p. 237. 
|| Ib. p. 232. 
