Insecta. 13 



the long-horned grasshoppers (usually green), including 

 the katydid ; the crickets ; the cockroaches, including the 

 "croton bug," so common about water pipes; the walking 

 sticks ; and the mantids. 



ORDER ODONATA. 



The Dragon Fly. The dragon fly has a long, straight 

 abdomen, and large eyes. The two pairs of net-veined 

 wings are alike in texture and nearly of the same size. 

 The wings are never folded, but when at rest are held out 

 at right angles to the body, ready for instant use. There 

 is a pair of strong jaws, which are nearly covered by the 

 large under and upper lips. The dragon fly feeds on in- 

 sects, which it catches on the wing, being one of the 

 swiftest and strongest flying of insects. Dragon flies are 

 most abundant in marshy places, where they may be seen 

 flying over the water or perched on a leaf or stem above 

 the water, on the alert for a passing mosquito or other 

 small insect. The females lay the eggs in the water, and 

 may often be seen hovering over the water with the tip of 

 the abdomen dipping beneath the surface. . An egg hatches 

 into a form called a nymph, with strong jaws. It immedi- 

 ately begins to prey upon other insects and larvae that it 

 finds. When it has attained its growth it crawls up the 

 stalk of some water plant, splits along the back, and the 

 dragon fly emerges, leaving the empty skin still clinging 

 to the stalk. The development is here also called direct. 

 While living in water the larva breathes by taking water 

 into the hind part of the digestive tube. Other dragon fly 

 larvae have rudimentary gills. Some of the smaller dragon 

 flies, when at rest, place the wings close together, just above 

 the body. These are called damsel flies. Dragon flies are 



