92 



INSECT LIFE. 



colorless wings and comparatively dull-colored bod- 

 ies, while others have shiny-black wings and brilliant, 

 metallic-green or blue bodies. 



The damsel-flies lay their eggs in a remarkable 

 manner. These insects have well-developed oviposi- 

 tors with which they can make incisions in the stems 

 or leaves of plants ; and some of the species at least, 

 when they wish to lay their eggs, crawl down the 

 stems of aquatic plants and lay their eggs in them be- 

 neath the water. 



Can it be that the habit of folding their wings 

 when they are not in use is correlated with the pecul- 

 iar egg-laying habits of these insects? Certainly it 

 would be difificult for them to creep beneath the water 

 were their wings expanded like those of dragon-flies. 



Let those who have accompanied us on this field 

 trip try to learn something new about dragon-flies 

 and damsel-flies. This they can do by patiently 

 watching. They can learn upon what kinds of in- 

 sects these creatures feed ; they can observe differ- 

 ences in their modes of flight, and in the regions 

 which each prefers to haunt ; and the}' can ascertain 

 more than we now know regarding the various ways 

 in which they lay their eggs. As soon as an observa- 

 tion is made, it should be recorded in a notebook or 

 on slips of paper carried for this purpose. 



After observations have been made on one of 

 these insects, that particular one should be captured 

 if possible, so that the record of the observation may 

 be completed by determining the particular species 

 observed. 



Other specimens should be taken for study at 

 school and for preservation in your collection. 



