NEUROPTERA. 135 



act of expanding, although later the wings may be 

 actually cut or pulled off without any apparent injury to 

 the insect beyond their loss. 



While the wings are expanding the Dragonfly assumes 

 a peculiar attitude, so curving its body as to prevent the 

 possibility of any contact between it and the soft delicate 

 young wings. 



The process of emerging from the pupa is exceedingly 

 interesting to observe, and it has a curious effect to see 

 the newly excluded insect clinging to what may almost 

 be called its own dead body. 



The pupae of various Dragonflies vary much in form, 

 those of the more or less slender species varying accord- 

 ing to the proportions of the imago, though in all cases 

 the pupae are somewhat shorter and broader than the 

 perfect insect. 



The Ephemeron, Mayfly* (PL V., fig. 1), or trout-fly is 

 an insect well known to at least all those who live near 

 streams or rivers. Resembling the Dragonfly in the 

 character of its larva and pupa state, it differs from them, 

 and indeed from most Neuropterous insects, in the great 

 inequality of size in the wings, the fore-wings being large 

 and the hind-wings sometimes about one-eighth of their 

 size, sometimes much smaller, or even altogether wanting. 

 When at rest the wings are raised and meet over the back. 

 The Mayflies have slender bodies, short antennae, and a 

 tail composed of two or three long fine many-jointed 

 bristles. 



There is a curious circumstance attending the coming 

 to perfection of the Mayfly. When first emerged from 

 the pupa-case it is quiet and dull dull in motion and 



By Kirby and Spence the Caddis-fly is called "Mayfly/ 



