BROOK MAGIC 



hatch and become imder-water nymphs, 

 the larvae of the dragon-fly. But the 

 demoiselles, still rightly named, do noth- 

 ing so brazen as that. Instead, they 

 pick out some nodding water weed, fold 

 their wings a little more tightly to their 

 iridescent bodies and crawl down it into 

 the water. Here, in proper seclusion 

 beneath the surface, they pierce the 

 reed's stem with keen ovipositor and lay 

 their eggs. Then they saunter forth 

 again and discreetly eat more midges 

 with salad dressing and a spoon. 



If you look closely among the water 

 weeds in the transparent water at the 

 pool margin you may see the demoi- 

 selle nymphs crawling about, breathing 

 through feathers in their tails, and 

 scooping up food with a big shovel 

 which sticks out under their chins. They 

 show little traces of their coming beauty. 

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