PSEUDO-NEUROPTERA 



401 



, 1 



w 



C. The Larva. 

 That the eggs are deposited 

 in plant-stalks merely for the 

 sake of protection appears 

 from the fact that on libera- 

 tion from the eggs the larva 

 forthwith emerges into the 

 water and commences its 

 predatory activity. 

 Motionless it lies at the 

 bottom of the water, to 

 which, by reason of its 

 brown colour, it presents 

 scarcely any contrast 

 (protection against 



LW.'l. 



BLUE DEACON FLY AND MAY FLY. 



f.W., Dragon fly on the wing in pursuit of a May fly (E.) ; s.W., dragon fly sitting eating a 

 May fly ; L.W.I., larva of dragon fly, with "mask" folded up ; L.W.2., the same with 

 mask extended, in the act of catching the larva of a May fly (L.E.) ; L.W.3., larva con- 

 suming a May fly larva (L.W.I, and L.W.2. squirting out a jet of water) ; L.h., larval skin 

 of dragon fly, from which the perfect insect has escaped by the rent on the back ; a.E., May 

 fly escaping from the larval skin ; h.E., one undergoing a second moult. 



