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ORDER VIII. NEUROPTERA.* 



IN most of these Insects the fore-wings are of 

 the same texture as the others, naked, transparent, 

 and filled with a multitude of veins or nervures, 

 which cross each other, forming network of ex- 

 quisite delicacy. Some, however, have the wings 

 comparatively destitute of this character, and the fore 

 ones are more firm in texture, concealing the others 

 when at rest. All of them have jaws and mandi- 

 bles, compound and simple eyes, but no sting or 

 egg-tube. Most of them are water insects in their 

 first stages, and carnivorous in all. 



The Dragon-flies (Libellula) occupy the most pro- 

 minent place in this Order. Their light and grace- 

 ful form, their long and lustrous wings, their agility 

 of movement, and their beautiful colours cannot fail 

 to attract attention; they are, however, as sangui- 

 nary as they are beautiful. The larva and pupa, 

 scarcely distinguishable from each other, live in fresh 

 waters, especially in still ponds : they have a broad 

 body, of a dirty brown hue, and six long sprawling 

 legs, which give them somewhat the appearance of 

 Spiders. They swim or glide through the water 

 by a most singular apparatus. The abdomen is in 

 a great measure hollow, but furnished with a piston 

 accurately fitting it, which can be considerably with- 



* Nsvgov, neuron^ a nerve, and ITTS^OV, pteron^ a wing. 

 VOL. II. Q 



