100 Animal Life 
Now follows a marvellous. sight: the head and thorax slowly bend back, and in 
so dog draw out from thew sheaths the first pair of legs (Fig. 5), as well as stretching 
the delicate white breathing tubes from the maim spiracles. At 10.46, the second pair 
of legs are free (Fig. 6), and three minutes later the third and last pair are drawn 
out (Fig. 7). The six legs are all quietly folded close up to the thorax and the dragon 
fly hangs head downwards, suspended by the tip of its body, which is gripped by the 
elasticity of the old skin of the nymph. In this extraordinary position it remains for 
the “resting stage,’ which varies from fifteen to forty minutes with different species 
(Fig. 8). Do not take your eyes from off it even for a single moment, lest you lose 
the most wonderful gymnastic feat, which is worth waiting to see. 
In this instance the “resting place” occupied sixteen minutes; then in a moment, 
with a mighty muscular effort, the dragon fly turned its head and thorax up, caught 
hold of the old nymph with its claws, and for a brief part of a second formed the 
“loop” seen at Fig. 9, almost at the same time withdrawing its body out of the 
nymph and hanging free in the position seen at Fig. 10. Like many a “lugher aninal,” 
it clings to its old garments, 
which are still serviceable for 
a short time. Soon the habits 
will be changed and ‘‘all things 
become new.” 
After a preliminary sort of 
shake the wings begin to 
lengthen in. a mysterious 
manner, as in Fig. 11. This 
was photographed at 11.4, 
followed by several others 
showing the gradual and 
almost imperceptible growth 
of these wonderful organs. 
In a short article it is 
! an impossibility to show the 
Fig. 16. exquisite harmony, so to 
speak, and we must be content 
with the somewhat rapid development in Figs. 12 and 18, im which is shown 
the body gracefully bent that it does not come into contact with the wings, which 
nature orders shall take precedence. As soon as they are mature the body rapidly 
develops to its full length (Fig. 14), but not until the contained fluid has been 
discharged is the dragon fly able to use its wings, and not even then with safety 
to itself. It must rest for several hours before it mounts upon the highest point 
(Fig. 15), where it opens and shuts its perfect wings. From here (Fig. 16), at 1.10 p.m., 
our dragon fly sailed away upon its virgin flight over the tops of the highest 
trees, where it revelled in its new life, being more than a match for any bird 
that ventured its capture on the wing. 
7a 
Aled : 
