C S3 ] 



PLATE XXIV. 



LIBELLULA DEPRESS A* 



Dragon Fly. 



Neuroptera. 



Wings four, naked, tranfparent, reticulated with veins or nerves. 

 Tail without a fting. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Mouth with two long lateral jaws. Antennae very fhort. Tail of 

 the male forked. Wings extended. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Eyes brown. Thorax greenifh, with two yellow tranfverfe bands. 

 A large black fpot at the bafe of each Wing, and a fmall dark mark 

 on their exterior margin. Body deprelfed, lance-fhaped. 



All the fpecies of Libellula, but particularly the larger kinds, are 

 confidered by many rather as objects of terror, than fubjects worthy in- 

 fpection ; and the vulgar denomination of Horfe-Jilnger^ contributes to 

 this abhorrence : although it hath no power over animals of fuch mag- 

 nitude, it is perfectly a Vulture among lepidopterous, or other defencelefs 

 Infects, deftroying more for its fport than for its voracious appetite. 



The Fly is on the wing in May, and June, in almoft every marfhy 

 iituation ; the female lays her eggs near the roots of Ofiers on the 

 banks of ditches, or finks them into the ftalks of Rufhes in the water ; 

 fc hey hatch, and an ugly apterous infect, of a brown colour, comes 



forth ; 



