NET WINGS. 61 



Darting off on distant errand. 

 And ere long again returning, 

 And again, on rustling pinions. 

 Hovering above tlie waters. 

 Dragonflies, Libellulina ; 

 Horse Stingers the vulgar call thera, 

 Falsely, ignorantly call them. 

 They have short and small antennae, 

 Bristlelike, and eyes enormous ; 

 Wings alike, and finely netted 

 With innumerable meshes ; 

 Hind wings at the base are broadest ; 

 All the wings spread horizontal 

 When the Dragonfly is resting : 

 Body very long and slender. 

 Often very gaily colom'ed ; 

 Tn Lindenia formosa 

 'Tis of purest, brightest azure : 

 Feet in all the tribe threejointed. 

 All these creatures love the sunshine, 

 Hawking after living insects, 

 Which they chase and capture flying, 

 And then, on a dead twig perching, 

 Leisurely devour their victim 

 Ere its brief, brief life has parted. 

 AH their larvae ai'e aquatic. 

 Feeding on the worms and insects 

 Which abound on muddy bottoms 



