rea 



A HISTORY OF 



INSECTS OF T2E2J SECOND ORDER. 



CHAPTER CJLXXVI11. 



OF THE SECOND ORDER OF INSECTS. 



IN the former part we gave a concise his- 

 tory of the most considerable insects that, 

 without wings, were produced in a perfect 

 state ; either from the body of the parent alive, 

 like quadrupeds, or from the egg, in the man- 

 ner of birds. We come now to a second or- 

 der of insects, that are produced from the egg, 

 like the former, but not in a perfect slate ; for 

 when first excluded, they are without wings. 

 This, however, does not hinder the exercise 

 of their animal functions ; the insect, although 

 not yet come to perfection, walks, leaps, and 

 eats ; nor is it ever deprived of motion, only 



that it rests a little when it is about to cast 

 that part of its skin previous to its state of 

 perfection. It is then seen to assume two 

 wings, which, like a budding flower, burst 

 through the case that contained them, and ; he 

 animal becomes a winged insect in its state of 

 highest perfection. To this order we may re- 

 fer the Libella, or Dragon-Fly ; the Formica 

 Leo, or Lion- Ant; the Grasshopper ; the Lo- 

 cust ; the Cricket; the Wood-Cricket; the 

 Mole-Cricket ; the Flea-Locust; the Flying- 

 Bug; the Tipula ; the Water-Scorpion; the 

 Notonecta, or Water-Fly ; and many others. 



CHAPTER CLXXIX. 



OF THE LIBELLA, OR DRAGON-FLY. 



OF all the flies which adorn or diversify 

 the face of nature, these arc the most various 

 and the most beautiful; they are of all colours; 

 green, blue, crimson, scarlet, white ; some 

 unite a variety of the most vivid tints, and ex- 

 liibir in one animal more different shades than 

 are to be found in the rainbow. They are 

 call-'d, in different parts of the kingdom, by 

 different names ; but none can be at a loss to 

 know them, as they are distinguished from all 

 other flies by the length of their bodies, by the 

 largeness of their eyes, and the beautiful trans- 

 parency of their wings, which are four in 

 number. Thev are seen in summer flvirig 

 \\ith grcit ranuiify near every hedge, and by 



every running brook ; they sometimes settle on 

 the leaves of plants, and sometimes keep for 

 hours together on the wing. 



Dragon-flies, though there are three or four 

 different kinds, yet agree in the most striking 

 parts of their history, and one account may 

 serve for all. The largest sort are generally 

 found from two to three inches long: their 

 tail is forked ; their body divided into eleven 

 rings ; their eyes are large, horny, and trans- 

 parent, divided by a number of intersections; 

 and their wings, that always lie flat when 

 they are at rest, are of a beautiful glossy trans- 

 parency ; sometimes shiuninu. like silver, and 

 sometimes glistening like gold. Within the 



