LACEWING-FLY. 279 



states that ' it creeps but slowly, but gives to its body violent 

 jerking motions in every direction, somewhat like those of a 

 serpent.' In the pupal state, the wings are pressed to the body 

 in such a Avay that they cover tlie hind pair of legs. These 

 larvne may be found under the bark of trees. 



The name Raphidla is formed from a Greek word signifying 

 a needle, and is given to these insects on account of the great 

 elongation of the prothorax. The specific name ophiopsis is 

 also from the Greek, and signifies ' snake-eyed.' The females 

 of this group have a long and slightly curved ovipositor, formed 

 of two plates. 



On Woodcut XXYII. Fig. 4 is shown one of our most 

 beautiful British insects. This is the Lacewing-fly {Chrysopa 

 vulgaris), a representative of the family Hemerobiidae. The 

 wings of this family are large and broad, and pressed against 

 the sides of the body when at rest : the antennae are long, 

 delicate, and many jointed; and the head is small, with two 

 very prominent and rounded eyes. The tarsi have five joints. 

 The form of this insect is very accurately given, though it is 

 impossible with the simple black and white of a wood en- 

 graving to do justice to the wonderful and delicate beauty of 

 the insect, about which is not one particle either of black or 

 white. Its body, head, and thorax are leaf-green, and its wings 

 are wide, thin, gauzy, and glossed with changing hues of green 

 and pink, according to the angle at which the light falls on 

 them. 



The chief beauty of the insect lies, however, in its eyes, 

 which, without the aid of a magnifying glass, look like two 

 tiny beads of burnished gold, and have earned for the insect 

 the popular name of Golden-eye, of which the Greek word 

 Chrysopa is but a translation. But if the insect be placed 

 under the microscope, and a brilliant light be directed on the 

 eyes, a wonderful change takes place. They are very convex 

 in form, and the hexagonal facets are marked with extreme 

 boldness, considering the small size of the organ. They are so 

 clearly defined, indeed, that . even with a common pocket 

 magnifier of low power they can be easily distinguished. 



Were the eye to be simple bro\vn or even black it would be a 

 beautiful object, in consequence of these hexagonal lenses, but 



