382 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



THE DRAGON-FLIES AND DAMSEL-FLIES 



Teacher s Story 



POND without dragon-flies darting above it, or without the ex- 

 quisitely iridescent damsel-flies clinging to the leaves 

 of its border would be a lonely place indeed. As one 

 watches these beautiful insects, one wonders at the 

 absurd errors which have crept into popular credence 

 about them. Who could be so silly as to believe 

 that they could sew up ears or that they could bring 

 dead snakes to life! The queer names of these in- 

 sects illustrate the prejudices of the ignorant— devil's 

 darning needles, snake doctors, snake feeders, etc. 

 Despite all this slander, the dragon-flies remain not 

 only entirely harmless to man, but in reality are his 

 friends and allies in waging war against flies and 

 mosquitoes; they are especially valuable in battling mosquitoes since 

 the nymphs, or young, of the dragon-fly, take the wrigglers in the 

 water, and the adults, on swiftest wings, take the mosquitoes while 

 hovering over ponds laying their eggs. 



The ten-spot. 



From Outdoor Studies, Needham. 



The poets have been lavish in their attention to these interesting 

 insects and have paid them delightful tributes. Riley says: 



"Till the dragon fly, in light gauzy armor burnished bright. 

 Came tilting down the waters in a wild, bewildered flight." 



While Tennyson drew inspiration for one of his most beautiful poems 

 from the two stages of dragon-fly life. But perhaps Lowell in that 

 exquisite poem, "The Fountain of Youth," gives us the perfect descrip- 

 tion of these insects: 



In summer-noon flushes 

 When all the wood hushes, 

 Blue dragon-flies knitting 

 To and fro in the sun. 

 With sidelong jerk flitting. 

 Sink down on the rushes, 



And, motionless sitting, 

 Hear it bubble and run. 

 Hear its low inivard singing. 

 With level ivings swinging 

 On green tasselled rushes. 

 To dream in the sun. 



