42 INSECTS. 



III. The Abdomen. Observe the form of the abdomen; 

 its markings; the absence of lateral appendages. Count 

 the abdominal segments, and, by bending slightly, observe 

 how they are fitted together. Observe a longitudinal 

 groove on either side of the abdomen. Just above this 

 groove, in each segment, is the opening (more or less 

 completely covered by scales) of a breathing pore (or 

 spiracle). 



Make a drawing of the abdomen, lateral view. 



THE DRAGON FLY. 



(Diplax.) 



Haunts and Habits. The young of the dragon fly lives 

 in the water on the bottom of brooks and shallow ponds. 

 The adults live in the air, and may be seen through the day, 

 poised on glistening wings above the water, or darting 

 hither and thither with great swiftness. The adults may 

 be collected with a net, but some little dexterity will be 

 necessary to catch the larger species. A small brown 

 species (T)iplax rubicundula), with amber-tinted wings, is 

 abundant in most places throughout the interior, and is 

 easily captured about wet meadows, and is a good example 

 for class use. It is always well to collect a number of 

 species for comparison. While collecting, observe: 



1. The places frequented. 



2. The habit of flight. 



3. The hours of flight. 



4. The food sought. 



The adult female dragon fly may sometimes be seen 

 hovering low above the water, dipping the end of her 

 abdomen occasionally beneath the surface, there deposit- 

 ing eggs. If captured unhurt, and held gently by the 

 fore wings while the dipping is done artificially in a turn- 



