256 WONDERS OF INSECT LIFE 



the little Demoiselle), and the strong flight, stamp 

 the Dragon Fly, not only as one of Summer's 

 choicest insect dandies, but as one of our most 

 beautiful and interesting native insects. 



When upon the wing one cannot fail to be 

 amazed at its adroitness and power. It proceeds 

 backwards and forwards in a wonderful way; 

 indeed, owing to its rapidity and ease of flight, its 

 considerable powers of endurance and its preda- 

 tory habits, it has acquired the name of Insect 

 Falcon, as well as the Eagle among insects. The 

 Great Dragon Fly possesses large compound eyes, 

 but some kinds of animals possess simple eyes; 

 others do not have any visionary powers at all. 

 These latter are animals which live under conditions 

 where eyes are useless, and their organs of sight 

 have been lost by degeneration. Again, there are 

 many animals that have no eyes, nor have their 

 ancestors ever possessed any. Insects, however, 

 and also Crustaceans, have eyes of a peculiar kind 

 known as compound eyes, and beyond this most 

 insects have smaller simple eyes. 



The head of the Dragon Fly is composed for 

 two-thirds or more of two large compound eyes, 

 and if these be examined it will be seen that the 

 outer surface of these two eyes is made up of a 

 number of small spaces or facets. These are the 

 outer lenses of the many eye elements which go to 

 complete the whole eye. Before we pass on to 



