THEIR LIFE HISTORY. 301 



when broken lights and shadows are thrown upon its 

 surface. Moreover, OAving to the structure of the 

 remarkable organ which they use when seizing their 

 prey, they do ' not come close to the surface, but can 

 remain well below it, as shown in the illustration. 



Owing to the structure of the breathing apparatus, the 

 dragon-fly larva can no more breathe out of the water 

 than we can breathe in it ; and consequently it is never 

 to be seen on land. As a rule, the other insects on 

 which it mostly feeds are also inhabitants of the water, 

 as is the case with the May-fly larva, which is represented 



