170 Union Bay 



beached. Then a dragonfly rests on a projecting branch. 

 The insects are both of the same general color pattern, a 

 pleasing light and vivid blue, similar to that so often used on 

 the shutters of modern cottages. Both are banded with black 

 but are not close enough so that I can compare color pattern. 

 The difference between these two insects superficially re- 

 minds me of the difference between the swifts and the swal- 

 lows. In each case there is the same general method of gain- 

 ing a living, but there is also a great difference in their range 

 and speed. The swift is among the fastest of the birds and 

 has a feeding range probably much in excess of one hundred 

 miles a day. The swallows are less active and operate in a 

 much smaller territory. It is so with the damsel flies and the 

 dragonflies. Both are predatory in their habits, in their 

 nymph, or premature, stages when they live under water, 

 and when, in maturity, they fly about the marsh. The 

 dragonfly has a speed and darting habit which reminds one 

 of a hummingbird. The damsel fly is slower, more indecisive 

 in its manner of flight. The insects which have been perching 

 near me leave almost at the same time, the damsel flies to 

 alight a short distance away, and the dragonfly to disappear 

 over the tops of the cattails. The nymphs of both varieties 

 are probably in the tangle underneath the canoe, lurking in 

 places where they can seize unlucky victims which may come 

 within range. 



The additional warmth of the afternoon, or the fresh 

 breeze, seems to stimulate activity among the birds. Cliff 

 swallows make their squeaking flight sounds as they con- 

 stantly fly overhead and hawk for insects. I can remember 

 when there were few of them around the marsh but now 

 they are plentiful in season. This demonstrates the fact that 

 man's influence is not always for the bad. The use of nesting 

 places provided by the University buildings has increased 

 their numbers so that they are now the commonest swallow 

 about the marsh. 



