NEUROPTERA. 42* 



and an arm ; it seizes the prey on its passage, and conveys it to the 

 mouth. " When any aquatic insect approaches them at a time when 

 they are in a humour for eating, says Charles de Geer, " they shoot 

 the mask forward very suddenly and like a flash of lightning, and 

 seize the insect between their two pincers ; then, drawing back the 

 mask, they bring the prey up to their mandibles, and begin to eat it. 

 I have remarked that they do not spare those of their own kind, but 



Fig. 394. Larva of the Libellula, and the perfect insect emerging. 



that they eat each other up when they can, and I have also seen them 

 devouring very small fish which I put by them. It is very difficult 

 for other insects to avoid their blows, because, walking along generally 

 in the water very gently, and, as it were, with measured steps almost 

 in the same way a cat does on the look-out for birds they suddenly 

 dart forward their mask and seize their prey instantaneously."* 

 Fig. 394 represents, to the left, the larva of the dragon-fly, with the 



* Charles de Geer, " Memoires pour servir a 1'Histoire des Insectes," tome 

 ii., 2e partie, p. 674. 



