THE DRAGON-FLY. 3S3 



■ Though there are three or four different kinds of this 

 insect, they bear so great a resemblance to each other, 

 that in giving the history of one, that of the rest may 

 be seen. The dragon-fly's body generally measures 

 from two to three inches in length, and is divided into 

 eleven rings ; their tail is forked, their eyes large and 

 shining, and they have four beautiful transparent 

 wings ; within the mouth are two small teeth, with 

 which they give a sharp, though not a venomous bite ; 

 and as their appetite is very voracious, they may be 

 considered as tyrants amongst the insect tribe. 



The dragon-fly is produced from an egg, which the 

 female deposits in clusters at the bottom of some pool 

 or stream ; and when the young ones acquire strength 

 enough to break through the w r alls of their prison, thev 

 bear a stronger resemblance to a worm than a fly : their, 

 wings, during the time that they remain in the degrading 

 state of a reptile, may be plainly discovered through a 

 transparent skin, which, after great exertion on the 

 part of the animal, it at length breaks through, and 

 takes its flight, as if proud of a transformation so much 

 in its favour, and which presents so beautiful a creature 

 to the sight. 



THE FORMIO-LEO, OR LION-ANT. 



The lion-ant, when it becomes an inhabitant of the 

 air, in every respect resembles that which has just been 

 described ; its glossy wings, its voracious appetite, and 

 its transformation from a reptile to an insect, are all 

 very much the same. 



This creature, in its state of degradation, has very 

 much the appearance of a wood-louse, though the 

 body is somewhat broader, and of a dirty grey colour, 

 spotted with black : the head is flat, and from it 



