350 LEISURE-TIME STUDIES. 



of our nature in reply. The present is such a time as favours 

 largely the development of the nature-instinct within us. 



There is little sign of active life to be perceived around 

 us at first sight ; but the " mind's eye " will look deeper for 

 its harvest than is customary with the gaze of an everyday 

 intellectual existence. That dragon-fly that hums by you, 

 for instance, is a subject you cannot afford to neglect in your 

 nature-studies and reflections here. What a stir he causes 

 to prevail amidst the group of gnats and May-flies, which a 

 moment ago were disporting themselves in the air ! Libellula 

 as friends skilled in the nomenclature of the insect-world 

 term the dragon-fly is now the petty tyrant of the insect- 

 domain, and, like most petty tyrants, is destitute of even 

 greatness of origin. Not so long ago he was crawling about 

 in the bed of the river, in the form of a big grub, provided 

 with six legs, and with an apparatus reminding one of a 

 hydraulic engine, whereby he was enabled to propel himself 

 forward by means of jets ffeau. Then, also, he was provided 

 with a pair of large jaws, supported on a movable stalk, so 

 that when folded upon his face he might look the most inno- 

 cent of beings. But with these same jaws he snapped up 

 such unwary insects as came in his way, and thus exhibited 

 in his earlier days a foreshadowing of his later rapacity. 

 Then the grub-like body attached itself to the stem of some 

 water plant ; next it split open along the back, and there 

 emerged therefrom the perfect dragon-fly, whose limbs were 

 at first weakly, and whose wings were flaccid and soft. After 

 a period of rest, Libellula spread its wings to the light, 

 and careered heavenwards in its maiden flight and first 

 evolutions in the air. And now, like a wise insect, he is 

 making the best of his time, and slaying and devouring his 

 brethren without mercy. 



Signs of activity now and then evince themselves from 

 the direction of the waters. Now you may see a trout leap 

 up to catch a gnat just by the spot where the upper branches 

 of the fallen poplar, whose root lies near us, dip in the 

 stream. The minnows are busy, as usual, darting hither and 



