DRAGONS AND DAMSELS 57 



nervous relatives, the damsel-flies, be so fond of 

 floating leaves and other objects on the water's 

 surface ? Do they not run some risk of wetting 

 those gauzy wings ? They are built for a life in 

 the air and sunshine, and it would seem the part 

 of wisdom for them to keep to their "crofts and 

 pastures." 



"Where do you look for dragon-flies?" I asked 

 some little children in eastern New York. "Down 

 by the kill" they replied 

 with one voice. "We saw 

 them flying out in the mid- 

 dle of the lake," said another 

 group. "Down by the mill 

 pond," "Up by the brook!" 

 There must be some good 

 reason for the dragon-fly's 

 universal devotion to the 

 water. 



I watched the creatures 

 idly at the water's edge, un- 

 til I became aware of their 

 intentness. Then I, too, 

 became intent, and watched 

 them carefully. They alighted 

 on floating leaves, sticks or 

 chips, and stood still. Then 

 I saw one move its body up 

 and down, dipping the end "KNITTING^ AND FRO IN 

 into the water. Again and THE SUN " 



again it dipped, then flew and poised and dipped 

 again. It was worth seeing. 



