CH. IV] DRAGONFLIES 101 



with the fulcrum very close to one end. The elevator 

 muscles are attached to the short arm of the lever which 

 in the upward movement of the wing is one of the first 

 order. The depressor muscles are attached to the lever 

 close to the fulcrum but upon the far side of it, that is to 

 say upon the same side as the wing expansion, which is 

 the weight to be moved. The lever is now one of the 

 third order. 



The long abdomen, which has perhaps gained for them 

 the false reputation of being able to sting "Horse- 

 stingers" is one of their popular names is brought 

 into play in flight, enabling the creatures to turn and 

 twist, and also in a remarkable way in the act of mating. 

 The legs are of moderate length and furnished with a 

 double series of long bristles; they are rarely employed 

 for walking, but during flight are all turned forward and 

 meet at about the level of the mouth; in this position 

 they form, by the aid of their bristles, a sort of basket 

 beneath the mouth for the reception and retention of flies 

 caught in rnid-air. It is difficult to determine whether 

 the prey is seized by the jaws or by the legs; my own 

 opinion is that the jaws are the weapons of prehension and 

 that the legs hold the prey thus seized while its wings and 

 less nutritious parts are cut off by the jaws and allowed to 

 fall to the ground. I have frequently observed Dragonflies 

 capturing their food, and a distinct "snap," such as the jaws 

 might easily cause as they come together, is audible at 

 the instant of capture, and in a second or two, wings and 

 other parts of the victim are seen floating down through 

 the air. On the other hand, if an insect is offered to a 



