shufeldt] 



COMMON FORMS OF ANIMAL LIFE 



343 



One of our largest Dragon-flies {A nax Junius) . 



and large, dark areas upon its wings. This is the Plathemis 

 lydia, and it is a very striking form. Many people call these 

 most graceful and attractive insects "devil's darning-needles"; 

 but for what reason it is hard to say. Superstitious folk have 

 given them the thoroughly undeserved name of "snake doctors" 



