390 DRAGON-FLIES. 



the leaves of the Pontedera, and of Calami and Sedges, 

 found among the fluviatile marshes, and on the low 

 banks of rivers in several parts of Borneo, even many 

 miles in the interior, where the water is perfectly fresh. 

 In this species, the eyes are likewise terminal ; the pro- 

 boscis is elegantly marked with crimson and yellow ; 

 there is a vivid scarlet edge extending round the lower 

 part of the body, where it joins the foot ; the under sur- 

 face of which latter part is of a dark brown. They live, 

 in general, quite out of the water, and have a very pretty 

 appearance when seen crawling among the leaves. 



In the insect world nothing surprised me more than 

 the large number of Libelulte, and analogous forms of 

 Neuroptera. Dragon-flies, however, are not only nu- 

 merous here, but in China, and among all the islands of 

 the Eastern seas. On every barren bank, on every 

 flowery plain, over oozy bogs and stagnant pools, may 

 be seen all day long, flitting on their untiring wings of 

 gauze, these beautiful creatures, or as Shakespeare would 

 term them : 



" Those gay creatures of the element, 

 That in the colours of the rainbow live, 

 And play i' the plighted clouds." 



Volatile and erratic, their chief resort is about some dull, 

 sequestered pool, where rank weeds luxuriate, and where, 

 springing from the mud and slime, the air teems with 

 living forms. These are the food of the Dragon-fly, and 

 in their pursuit and capture consist his pastime and 

 delight. I have frequently regarded with astonishment 

 the dexterity of the little Dyak boys, who catch these 

 sprightly Neuroptera by means of a noose formed of 



