NEUROPTERA, 



421 



and an arm ; it seizes the prey on its passage, and conveys it to the 

 mouth. " When any aquatic insect approaches them at a time when 

 they are in a humour for eating," says Charles de Geer, " they shoot 

 the mask forward very suddenly and Hke a flash of Hghtning, and 

 seize the insect between their two pincers ; then, drawing back the 

 mask, they bring the prey up to their mandibles, and begin to eat it. 

 I have remarked that they do not spare those of their own kind, but 



Fig. 394. — Larva of the Libellula, and the perfect insect emerging. 



that they eat each other up when they can, and I have also seen them 

 devouring very small fish which I put by them. It is very difticult 

 for other insects to avoid their blows, because, walking along generally 

 in the water very gently, and, as it were, with measured steps — almost 

 in the same way a cat does on the look-out for birds — they suddenly 

 dart forward their mask and seize their prey instantaneously."* 

 Fig. 394 represents, to the left, the larva of the dragon-fly, with the 



* Charles de Geer, 

 ii., 2e partie, p. 674. 



Memoires pour servir a I'Histoire des Insectes," tome 



