SUMMER'S INSECT DANDY 253 



that the Dragon Fly, aptly named Summer's 

 insect dandy, is holding high revel, and the hours 

 pass swiftly and pleasantly as we observe the 

 coquettish movements of the numerous specimens 

 which appear, disappear, and reappear before us. 



What are the creatures doing here ? What 

 reason can be ascribed for the curious antics they 

 carry out, their bodies bobbing up and down like 

 so many airy beings suspended by an unseen wire ? 

 'Tis a remarkable sight, to say the least, and one 

 might imagine when witnessing it for the first time 

 that the Dragon Flies were in a half-frenzied 

 state, or had suddenly lost their reason. When 

 we come to consider the life-history of Summer's 

 insect dandy, however, we cannot fail to recognise 

 that he is far from being ill-witted, or without 

 reason, as we shall presently see. 



The insects before us then are mating upon the 

 wing, flying hither and thither, and exhibiting a 

 wonderful control over their flight powers as they 

 suddenly pull themselves up, then hover, now 

 bob up and down. What means this latter move- 

 ment ? It is carried out by the female, and she 

 resorts to this curious habit for the purpose of 

 selecting a suitable place in which to deposit her 

 eggs. Having satisfied herself that a convenient 

 place has been found, she drops the end of her 

 body into the water and lays her eggs. This 

 accomplished, away she flies on unerring wings, 



