THEIR APPALLING VOBACITY. 305 



from the water, and it feels that it must breathe air or 

 die. It makes its way to any object Avhich projects out 

 of the water, preferring a reed or sedge if it can be 

 found. 



Slowly it crawls upwards, for its legs are quickly 

 stiffening, and at last it reaches a suitable height above 

 the water; here it stops and awaits its escape from 

 bondage. 



The skin rapidly dries when out of the water, the 

 insect struggles for breath, and in its struggles the dry 

 skin is split along the back, and for the first time in its 

 life the dragon-fly breathes the air for which it has longed. 



New strength comes with every respiration, and before 

 very long, the insect can extend the rent in the skin and 

 draw out its head. Presently, the legs are drawn from 

 their former coverings like swords from their scabbards, 

 the feet are used as they are freed, and soon the whole 

 upper part of the dragon-fly is released. 



The wings, which are as yet nothing but thick, soft, 

 and apparently solid masses, are freed from their cover- 

 ings, and by degrees the whole insect is withdrawn from 

 the empty shell, which is left clinging with its hollow 

 and now transparent legs to the plant up which the pupa 

 had climbed. 



If possible, the dragon-fly will find a foot-hold on a 

 neighbouring stem or leaf, and will then be able to ex- 

 tricate itself more quickly. But, if it can find none, it 

 simply allows itself to bend backwards, as shown in the 

 illustration, until it can cling to the stem. The last 



