178 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



less, largely on its weaker brethren for bodily sustenance. Whilst 

 in this state the mouth of the creature is an object well worthy 

 of study, the entire front of the face being covered by a kind of 

 mask, situate at the extremity of a long-jointed arm, and fur- 

 nished with two enlarged hooks or jaws. With this curious appa- 

 ratus the insect seizes its prey, throwing off its mask — not figura- 

 tively, but actually — and clutching the object with the hooks, 

 which then convey the dainty morsel to its mouth. 



The larval form has also a very curious apparatus, which 

 reminds us of that possessed by the cuttlefishes, and which 

 enables the insect to violently eject a stream of water by means 

 of this contrivance, and so to spring or dart along with con- 

 siderable speed. In common with other insects, the Dragonfly 

 after a certain period assumes the state of pupa or chrysalis ; but 

 instead of becoming an inert mass enclosed in a cocoon after the 

 manner of the Lepidoptera, this form only differs from the larval 

 state in being larger, and in having the wings a little more 

 developed. But without doubt, whilst in this state, processes 

 are quietly at work altering and transforming the insect so as to 

 fit it for its last great change ; and when this is accomplished, 

 the pupa crawls up a friendly reed or other aquatic plant until it 

 emerges from the water. Soon a rent or tear appears in its 

 back, and, lo ! there emerges from this horny, unengaging-looking 

 shell the perfect Dragonfly, who, after resting awhile to dry and 

 harden his delicate wings, darts swiftly and gracefully away, 

 leaving us to ponder once again over the inscrutable mysteries 

 Nature is always exhibiting to us. 



In spite of their beauty and frequent occurrence the Dragon- 

 flies do not appear to have engrossed so much of the attention of 

 naturalists as has been accorded to other sections of entomology, 

 and works on the subject are neither numerous nor extensive, 

 whilst some are not readily accessible. 



The most complete monograph of Libellulidse with which I 

 am acquainted is M. Charpentier's ' Libellulidse Europse,' a work 

 written in Latin, and profusely illustrated by excellent coloured 

 plates of every European species then known. A smaller French 

 work, without plates, was published in 1840 by M. E. de Selys 

 Longchamps, and is very valuable on account of the minute 

 specific descriptions and the copious critical notes which are 

 appended. 



