274 INSECTS AT HOME. 



irrepressible instinct then drives it to leave the water in which 

 it has so long- lived, and, seizing the stem of a reed or other 

 aquatic plant, it crawls upwards until it is a foot or two above 

 the surface ; clasping the reed firmly with its feet, it sways 

 itself backwards and forwards until the pupal skin splits along 

 the shoulders and the wings and body of the perfect insect 

 show themselves beneath it. 



The respiration is now changed. P'ormerly, as has been 

 described, that function was performed by means of a gill-like 

 apparatus within the body, but now the insect begins to 

 breathe atmospheric air by means of spiracles. It rests for a 

 time, as if to accustom itself to so radical a change, and then 

 recommences its struggles. By degrees it draws itself entirely 

 from the pupal envelope, which is left still clinging to the 

 plant up which it had crawled. In spots where Dragon-flies 

 abound, these shed skins can often be found, clinging as firmly 

 to the plant as if still tenanted by the insect. The meta- 

 morphosis, though complete in one sense, is not yet finished ; 

 for the wings are still thick, short, and scarcely larger than in 

 the pupal state. Presently the insect begins to take a series of 

 deep inspirations, quivering the wings the while ; and, as it 

 does so, they rapidly enlarge, fold after fold shakes itself out 

 as the air is driven through the vessels which permeate them, 

 and at last they are spread in all their shining beauty. Yet a 

 while the insect waits until the wings have gained their need- 

 ful strength, and then it. darts off into the air to begin its 

 new life. 



As in its • former stages, the Dragon-fly is terribly preda- 

 ceous, and, contrary to the ways of most insects, eating seems 

 to be the chief object in life. From early morning to night- 

 fall the Dragon-fly is perpetually hunting and devouring prey, 

 and in nowise particular respecting tlie nature of its food nor 

 the way in which it is obtained. P^or example, if a Dragon-fly 

 be caught uninjured, and held by its wings, it will eat almost 

 \ any amount of insects that may be supplied to it. Nor does it 

 i\ confine itself to insects, for it will devour spiders, centipedes, 

 ll millipedes, fresh-water shrimps, and similar creatures ; and, as 

 soon as it is released, it will start off again on a hawking ex- 

 pedition, apparently as hungry as if it had had nothing to eat 

 [for a whole day. 



