306 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



changes of this insect, that it was in reality dead, 

 and that it was a waste of time to watch it any 

 longer. This state of profound inaction may endure 

 for a quarter, or even half an hour : it appears to 

 be intended in order to give time to the insect to 

 recruit its strength for a fresh and more violent 

 series of efforts, and to admit of its parts becoming 

 hardened and dry. Suddenly, as we are, perhaps, 

 carelessly looking bn the inanimate object, it per- 

 forms a feat of the most surprising, because un- 

 expected agility. Its body, which was pre- 

 viously much bent backwards, is now swung 

 forwards and bent into a curve; it then swings 

 back, and then forwards again, and so quickly 

 that it almost seems to leap. It then rests its 

 legs upon the front part of the pupa case, and 

 pulls the rest of its body out of the case by 

 degrees, and then creeps forward, leaving the pupa 

 case behind, still immovably fixed upon the 

 plant. 



" Behold," says Reaumur, "the dragon-fly new 

 born, but very different from those which traverse 

 the air, or rest upon the plants around. It is 

 quite in disguise. The body, though longer than 

 the pupa case out of which it was drawn, has not 



