CHAPTER III 

 SOME AQUATIC INSECTS 



AS we stand by the margin of a quiet pool, 

 on a summer afternoon, and watch the 

 exquisite play of colour on the body and wings 

 of the Dragon-flies, as they gracefully poise, or 

 take their swift flight backwards and forwards 

 over the water, we are tempted to think that 

 these handsome creatures have been singularly 

 misnamed, and that surely the old French title 

 of Demoiselle would be more applicable. But, 

 truth to tell, these insects are really magnificent 

 frauds, striking examples of the unwisdom of 

 judging too closely by mere external appear- 

 ances, for under their graceful and daintily 

 tinted exterior exists the most destructive and 

 bloodthirsty nature imaginable. If we closely 

 watch the Dragon-flies as they hawk backwards 

 and forwards over the pond, we shall see that 

 ever and anon they swoop down upon some 

 unfortunate winged insect, a May-fly, or some 

 other member of the Diptera, or perhaps a small 

 Butterfly, and proceed, while still on the wing, 

 to bite off and let fall the legs and wings of their 

 victim. They certainly capture far more of 

 these insects than they can possibly consume, 



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