LTJNCH BY THE BROOKSEDE. 83 



under his chest. He is a voracious fellow, and 

 now has his eye on a small bug resting on a bit 

 of grass-blade. Cautiously the dragon creeps 

 forward to within less than an inch, when he 

 raises himself well up in front, and shoots out a 

 bit of breast-plate material with two movable 

 arms coming out of the forward end of it, and a 

 sharp hook on each one of them. This instru- 

 ment is hinged to the throat, folds back when 

 not in use, and when needed is flung forward, 

 seizing the prey in the hooks, and is by them 

 passed to the mouth, for whose service this cruel 

 tool is designed. If I had been in luck here 

 this creature would have crawled out of the 

 water into the sunshine, selected a position on a 

 log or stick where he could get a good hold with 

 his claws, and then wait till the sun dried his 

 shell, when it would crack along the back ; at 

 that signal he would begin to struggle out, till 

 in the course of a half-hour he would be clear 

 of it. During this time his wings are con- 

 stantly attempting to open, for they are wet 

 and folded close, and if they dry in that con- 

 dition all will be over with him. If there is no 

 accident, in two hours he will be standing be- 

 side his " outgrown shell," glittering in brilliant 

 hues, with wings delicate as a fairy's fancy 

 might make them, and quivering responsive to 



