THE GREAT DRAGON FLY. 



Remarkably brilliant in its perfect state. 



autennae very thin., of equal thickness through- 

 out, and shorter than the thorax; the wing is ex- 

 panded, and the tale of the male furnished with 

 a forked process. This insect, in its perfect state, 

 is one of the most brilliant of the Britith species; 

 they delight in sunshine, and are seldom to be 

 seen in cloudy weather, as they then hide them- 

 selves under the leaves and branches of trees. 



The parent insect, towards the end of May, 

 when ready to deposit her eggs, seeks the warm 

 and sheltered sides of ponds or ditches. She 

 drops them on the surface, hovering at the same 

 time up and down just above. They immedi- 

 ately sink to the bottom, and, after a little while, 

 are hatched into larvae of a dirty brown colour 

 with six legs, and bearing no resemblance what- 

 ever to the parent. These flies are excessively 

 voracious, and destroy with their forcipated jaws 

 multitudes of the weaker water insects. This 

 formidable apparatus is so constructed as to fold 

 over the face when at rest, and to be suddenly 

 thrown forwards, when in action to a considera- 

 ble extent. They are also remarkable for their 

 vigor and celerity of flight. The chrysalis differs 

 from the larva only in exhibiting the rudiments 

 of future wings, which are enveloped in short 

 cases or processes on the back of the animal. 

 After remaining in this state about two years, 

 the animal ascends the stem of some water-plant, 

 and, sitting some time in the sun-shine, gives 

 birth to the insect in its perfect or ultimate form. 



VOL. VJ. NO. 46. 2 T 



