HUMOURS OF INSECT LIFE 



Almost immediately afterwards it vanishes it has 

 dropped so quickly that my eye is baffled in seeking 

 to ascertain its whereabouts till yet once more the 

 shining film of lace-like wings may be observed among 

 the brambles close at hand. Creeping stealthily to- 

 wards the tangle, I notice that the head of the dragon- 

 fly is turned restlessly, now on one side and again on 

 another, as the insect keeps a sharp watch for its prey. 

 The light green lips are opened and closed, as this 

 marauder of the woods devours some savoury morsel 

 just secured, but I am unable to discover the identity 

 of the stricken insect. Having finished its meal, the 

 dragon-fly flashes off in pursuit of one of its species 

 which has come to trespass on its hunting preserve, and 

 drives the intruder away. Returning from the chase, 

 the ravenous creature spies a drone-fly quitting a broad 

 leaf of plantain, and drops instantly, hoping for a 

 richer repast, but rises again, reluctant to attack an 

 opponent of such formidable appearance. It may be 

 that the drone-fly owes its escape to the accuracy with 

 which Nature has counterfeited the colour and shape 

 of the hive-bee in this less intelligent wildling of the 

 fields, which, however as the dragon-fly is probably 

 unaware cannot sting. Gliding, pausing, rising, fall- 

 ing, the dragon-fly inspects the upper surface of every 

 leaf and flower in its neighbourhood, and consequently 

 a rather heavy rate of mortality takes place among the 



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