108 



DRAGON FLIES 



[CH. IV 



Thus much accomplished, the imago throws itself back- 

 ward, no longer retaining any hold by means of its legs, 

 but supported solely by the still confined hinder segments 

 of the abdomen. This becomes sharply bent over the 

 posterior margin of the crack through which the creature 

 has emerged. The inverted position is maintained for 

 about half-an-hour, probably until the legs and claws have 

 become dry and attained the desired firmness. At length, 

 with a jerk, the animal springs up into its previous atti- 



B 



Fig. 19. 



A. The anterior portion of the body of a Dragonfly, Msdina cyanea, 

 freed from the larval shell. B. The tail being extricated. 



