LIFE IN WATER 201 



them. Watch how they get hold of the meat. Keep a 

 piece of netting, or wire screening, over the aquarium. 

 Place a few upright sticks in the aquarium. 



Some morning you will find, instead of a black, crawling 

 bug, a beautiful dragon fly in the aquarium. What did the 

 nymph do when it got ready to change to the grown-up 

 insect? Did it stay in the water? Look at the nymph 

 skin. How did the dragon fly get out? Look on stems 

 of water plants in ponds for the cast-off skins of dragon 

 flies. Look closely at the mature insect. Can you see its 

 eyes? Are they large or small? Why are large eyes an 

 advantage to it as it gets its food in the air ? Where are 

 its legs; near its head or far back on the body? The legs 

 are used to help in catching and holding the prey. The 

 dragon fly really makes a basket out of its legs in which it 

 carries its dinner. 



When the wings are thoroughly dry, remove the cover 

 from the aquarium and watch while the insect lifts itself 

 on its new wings and flies away. By what other names are 

 dragon flies known? Snake doctor, snake feeder, and 

 devil's darning needle. 



Another interesting aquarium study is the development 

 of toads and frogs from the eggs. The eggs may be found 

 in ponds and pools in early spring. Frog's eggs are in 

 masses of white, jellylike material fastened usually to 

 sticks or other objects in the water. Toad's eggs are in 

 long ribbonlike strings of the same jellylike material. As 

 with all other specimens in the aquarium, care should be 

 taken not to have too many of the little tadpoles in the 

 same jar. 



Goldfish are easily kept in the schoolroom and may 



