AN EXTRA ORDINAR Y S URPRISE. 183 



Because the former must make the first advances, and carry 

 off his aerial companion to celebrate their bridal. For this 

 purpose, he holds her tightly by the neck, and continues to 

 fly in this way for some few minutes. At length, he perches 

 himself on the branch of a willow, or the leaf of an aquatic 

 plant, along with his companion. 



The eggs laid by the female are oblong in shape, and some- 

 times united together in clusters: the female deposits them 

 in the water, or on some water-floated leaf plant, shortly after 

 their fecundation. 



METAMORPHOSIS OF THE DRAGON-FLY. 



" To-day I saw the Dragon-fly 

 Come from the wells where he did lie , 

 An inner impulse rent the veil 

 By his old husk : from head to tail 

 Came out clear plates of sapphire mail. 

 He dried his wings : like gauze they grew, 

 Through croft and pasture wet with dew, 

 A living flash of light he flew." 



TENNYSON. 



If in your walks abroad you should meet with a pool of 

 turbid water, do not object to linger for a moment on its 

 brink. Nature, as a reward for your trouble, will gratify you 

 with an extraordinary surprise. Stir up the mud with a stick, 

 or, better still, with your hand ; and then, as the children say, 

 you shall see what you shall see ! 



Oh, what an ugly creature is struggling in this handful of 

 slime ! It looks like a large spider ! 



Nay, examine it more attentively; it can do you no harm. 



