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so long and light contrasting with his muscular chest and 

 bulky shoulders, fit receptacles for the insertion of those 

 powerful pinions ; and the legs, six in number, strong and 

 rigid, and armed with claws. But notice, above all, the head 

 the round enormous head nearly the whole of its upper 

 half occupied by large prominent eyes, which, in their crystal- 

 line transparency, differ remarkably from the generality of 

 visual organs among insects, with their lifeless appearance of 

 dull opacity. In these there is no lack of vivid expression, as 

 the numerous hexagons of which they are composed seem to 

 be for ever in motion, now appearing visible, then seeming 

 lost beneath their translucent common covering or cornea. 

 With the threatening animation of these rapacious-looking 

 eyes, the mouth and powerful jaws are in formidable accord- 

 ance ; and if, in the sight of its insect victims, this veritable 

 dragon of their tribes wears anything like the aspect he bears 

 in ours, (his terrors magnified by superior size, and perhaps, 

 also, by instinctive dread,) with what trepidation must defence- 

 less case-flies flee before him, and what a panic must be created 

 by his very shadow amongst a bevy of white-robed butterflies, 

 when assembled, according to their wont, in a water-drinking 

 party round a pond. Well may ye tremble, ye harmless sip- 

 pers, at the approach of this, your arch-destroyer, as ye catch 

 the sound of his rapid flight audible, perhaps, to your 

 delicate antennae, though silent to our coarser ears. Well 

 may ye rise in terror and confusion, when ye behold his terrible 



