THE LIBELLA, OR DRAGON-FLY. 279 



bottom, and continue till the young find ftrength enough to break th^ 

 fhell, and to feparate from each other. They firft (hew life as a worm, 

 v/ith fix legs, bearing a ftrong rcfcrnblance to the dragon-fly in its wing- 

 ed Hate, except that the wings are yet concealed within a (heath. Their 

 rudiments appear in bunches on the back, within which the wings are 

 folded up into each other, while all the colours and varieties of painting 

 appear through the fkin. On quitting the egg, they ftill continue in the 

 water, where they creep and fwim, but not fwiftly. They have a (harp 

 fight, and fink to the bottom whenever they perceive unufual objects. 

 Their food is foft mud, and the glutinous earthy fubdances at the 

 bottom. 



When they prepare to change from their reptile to their fiying (late, 

 they quit the water for a dry place, as grafs, pieces of wood, (lone, or 

 any thing clfe they meet with. They there firmly fix their acute claws ; 

 and for a (hort time continue immoveable. The fkin firft opens on the 

 head and back ; out of this opening they exhibit their real head and 

 eyes, and at length their fix legs; whilft the empty fkin, or (lough of 

 their legs, remains firmly fixed in its place. After this, the inclofed 

 creature creeps forward by degrees; drawing firft its wings, then its 

 body, out of the fkin ; and proceeding a little farther, refts for fome tiine, 

 as if immoveable. During this time the wings, which were moift and 

 folded, by degrees expand, and fmoothen their plaits, which were laid 

 againft each other, lil<.e a clofed fan. The body is likewife infcnfi- 

 bly extended, until the limbs have obtained their proper dimenfions. All 

 thefe furprifing and difficult operations are accompliibed by the force of 

 the blood and the circulating humours. The creature cannot at firll ufe 

 i!:s new wings, but is forced today in the fame place till its lim.bs are dried 

 T3y the circumambient air. It foon, however, wings the air, and fe- 

 Icfls the variety of its provifions. Nature has provided it with two large 

 eyes, which miake almoft the whole bead, and which refemble glittering 

 mother of pearl. It has four expanfive filver-coloured wing?, with 

 which, as with oars, it can turn itfelf fwiftlyj and a very long body, 

 which, like a rudder, diredts its motions. As the wings are long, and 

 the legs (hort, they fcldom walk, but are ever feen eitlicr refting or fiy- 

 ing. They always chufedry branches of trees or ihrubs to fettle on ; and, 

 when refrefhed a little, renew their flight. 



They arc tyrants of the infect tribe ; and, like the hawk, only hover- 

 ing to feize their prey. They are the ftrongeft and moft courageous 

 of winged infcds. The blue fly, the bee, the wafp, the hornet, and 



the 



