AUGUST, 1882. 207 



life from these determined communists, whose union was 

 strength. Had the community been a little more exten- 

 sive, and the creature had delayed in ridding itself of the 

 portion seized, it would have all gone to form a meal to 

 these strange coralline-like growths. 



It is interesting to learn from "W. L. H." that instances 

 of dragon-flies in cities are more common than we 

 imagine ; at the same time we cannot bring ourselves to 

 believe that these insects willingly traverse the smoke- 

 freighted city of their own accord. Still it must be 

 recollected that these larger species of Libellula are more 

 like swallows, for power and speed of flight, and their 

 carnivorous character might induce them to follow, say, a 

 butcher's cart even into what must appear to them an 

 African desert of city. We in vain endeavoured to follow 

 a fine specimen to-day in its swift progress over a stretch 

 of mossy ground, its large eyes scanning the neighbour- 

 hood for living prey ; for these predacious insects may be 

 called the Raptores of the insect world. The neighbour- 

 hood or immediate surface of water is their customary 

 hunting-ground, water being the element in which their 

 eggs are laid, and in which their nymphs emerge from 

 the pupa case and develop their wings. It is therefore 

 impossible to believe them developed in the city, and we 

 are forced to suppose them carried thither accidentally 

 rather than traversing the streets like insect Livingstones. 

 Their life history is a strange one, well worthy the atten- 

 tion of youthful naturalists, who might " choke " them 

 with a drop of paraffin on the complicated tail, through 

 the end of which they breathe ! 



In passing along the highway these last days every 

 step has been accompanied by the most reckless slaughter, 

 for it was quite impossible to proceed without destruction, 



