Orver,—_NEUROPTERA. 
SecTion,—LIBELLULINA. Mac Lemay. 
This section of the order Neuroptera, contains some of our 
largest British Insects, and embraces a variety of species differing 
not only in the elegance of their form, but also in the beautiful 
colouring both of the wings and body. 
The Heaps of these Insects, which assume either a spherical or a 
triangular shape, are large, and are provided with two compound 
eyes, which occupy nearly the whole exterior surface ; and are said 
to contain, by Leeuwenhoek, more than 12,000, and by Dr. Hooke, 
14,000 lenses ineach. (PI. 1, 7.1.) 
The ANTENN are short, and are placed between the eyes (pi. 1. 
Jf. 2, 3, 4) ; the Mandibles are strong and dentated (pl.1, f. 5). 
They have four large wines (pi. 2.) composed of a glassy sub- 
stance spread on nervures through which circulation takes place, and 
their Boptgs are long, either cylindrical as in Agrion, or flattened, 
as in Libellula; terminating in the males, in forcipated or Jamel- 
lated appendages. (PJ. 1, 7. 9, 10, 11, 12.) 
Mons. Poupart, in the Philosophical Transactions, states, that 
the Insect is greatly assisted in its flight by its body being formed of 
separate rings, and that they act similarly to the tail of birds.— 
Phii. Trans., 1700. Vol. 22, p. 519. 
The Leas are six in number, and the Tarsi three-jointed. (PJ. 1, 
Fa lo, 14s To.) 
B 
