94 OUT OF DOORS. 



from his mouth, and fluttered slowly through the air. 

 For the dragon-fly was hungry, and was making the 

 most of his time by devouring one victim while looking 

 out for another. 



If you want to observe him nearer, you can do so 

 easily enough. Wait until he flies in your direction, 

 and meet him with a firm sweep of the net. Down with 

 the net on the ground, and seize the fierce creature, for 

 he is biting his way through the gauze at a wonderful 

 rate. 



Take him out by his wings, and don't be afraid ; for 

 he cannot sting, though he is popularly called i horse- 

 stinger ' by the rustics. Turn him on his back, and see 

 how quickly and deeply he breathes, and how wonder- 

 fully the body is formed to permit of respiration. Pray 

 do not think he is frightened. Not in the least ; and 

 we will prove it. Under the influence of terror, no 

 creature will eat. But just take that fly out of the 

 spider's web, and hold it to our dragon's mouth ! See ! 

 he crunches it up in a moment ; his mouth opens four 

 ways at once ; two pair of jaws and one pair of horny 

 lips close on the fly and he is gone, with a snap and a 

 bite, like a mutton chop down a Newfoundland dog's 

 throat. Then you may give him the spider, and he will 

 eat that too. He is very fond of spiders ; and from 

 certain observations, not yet published, I have a notion 

 that spiders are almost necessary to these creatures, 

 under certain circumstances. Try him with a beetle. 

 Down it goes, but not so rapidly, the hard wing-cases 



