NEUROPTEUA. 437 



In some the mandibles and maxillx are corneous, very strong, and cover- 

 ed by the two lips; the tarsi are triarticulated; the wings are equal, and the 

 posterior extremity of the abdomen is simply terminated by hooks or lami- 

 niform or foliaceous appendages. They form the genus 



LiBELLuiiA, Lin. Geoff. 

 Or Dragon Mies. The light and graceful figure of these Insects, the beau- 

 tiful and variegated colours with which they are adorned, their large wings 

 resembling lustrous gauze, and the velocity with which they pursue the 

 Flies, &c., that constitute their food, attract our attention and enable us to 

 recognize them with facility. Their head is large, rounded, or in the form 

 of a broad triangle. They have two great lateral eyes and three ocelli situ- 

 ated on the vertex; two antennx, &c. The female deposits her eggs in the 

 water. 



The larvae and the chrysalides inhabit the water until the period of their 

 ultimate metamorphosis, and, with the exception of wings, are tolerably 

 similar to the perfect Insect. Their head, however, on which the simple 

 eyes are not perceptible, is remarkable for the singular form of the piece 

 which replaces the lower lip. It is a kind of mask that covers the mandi- 

 bles, maxillae, and almost the whole under part of the head. 



Havingattained the period of their ultimate metamorphosis, the nymphs 

 issue from the water, climb along the stems of plants, fix there, and divest 

 themselves of their skin. 



LIBEI.LT7LA, Fab. 



Or Libellula proper, where the wings are extended horizontally when 

 at rest. The head is almost globular, with very large, contiguous or closely 

 approximated eyes, and a vesicular elevation on the vertex, with an ocellus 

 on each side; the other or anterior ocellus is much larger. 



^sHNA, Fab. 



The .Eshnae resemble the Libellulae proper in their mode of bearing their 

 wings, and in the form of their head, but their two posterior ocelli are 

 placed on a simple ti-ansverse elevation in the form of a carina. The in- 

 termediate lobe of the labium is also larger, and the two others are distant 

 and armed with a very stout tooth and spiniform appendage. The abdo- 

 men is always narrow and elongated. 



The abdomen is terminated by five appendages, but one of them is trun- 

 cated at the end. 



M. grandis. One of the largest species of this family, being nearly two 

 inches and a half (French) in length; fulvous-brown; two yellow lines on 

 each side of the thorax; abdomen spotted with green or yellowish; wings 

 iridescent. It darts with amazing rapidity over meadows, and along the 

 shores of rivers, &c., pursuing Flies in the manner of the Swallow. 



