196 OUT OF DOORS. 



than a denizen of day, and has a habit of getting into 

 rooms after the lamps are lighted, flying into the flame, 

 scorching itself, and falling on the table, where it spins 

 about until some one mercifully puts it out of pain. 

 It is rather a formidable insect to handle, behaving 

 exactly as if it had a sting, and if touched, it brings the 

 end of its body against the fingers just as a wasp or bee 

 would do. 



Presently there is a quick ruffling sound, and some 

 large insect swoops past. It is a dragon-fly, which is 

 out on a marauding excursion, taking the blackberry 

 bush as its base of operations. It is curious to see how 

 the movements of a dragon-fly in search of prey re- 

 semble those of a flycatcher. The bird takes a stand 

 on some elevated spot, and then makes short flights 

 into the air, catching an insect, and returning to its 

 post. So does the dragon-fly. It picks out some suit- 

 able resting-place, and makes that the spot whence it 

 issues in search of prey. It settles, waits for a moment, 

 and then, as if a hidden spring were touched, down go 

 all its wings with a jerk, and the creature remains 

 motionless except its head, which is twisted from side 

 to side in a way that is almost comical, while its great 

 round eyes glow in the sunshine like a pair of opals. 

 Suddenly, and without any previous preparation, oflf it 

 darts into the air, makes a bold swoop or two, and then 

 returns to the spot whence it started. 



I noticed two peculiarities in its habits. In the first 

 place, like the daddy long-legs, which has already been 



