SEPTEMBER 191 



His jaws are usually so small as to be unable 

 to gather up a fold of skin; or, if large 

 enough, can barely give a light pinch. 

 Sting, the dragon-fly has none. 



If any one will overcome his prejudice 

 against this slandered insect and catch him, 

 he will find him extremely beautiful. We 

 often hear of the "thousand eyes" of the 

 fly, but few people ever see this compound 

 eye. If one of the big fellows, so common 

 in September, be examined, the facets will 

 show even to the naked eye, while a magni- 

 fying-glass brings them out very plainly. 



BEAUTIFUL COLORS OF THESE INSECTS 



Then too the coloring of these insects is 

 exquisite. Most colors are due to pig- 

 ments, but these belong to that wonderful 

 set whose surface structure determines their 

 beauty. They are the varying colors that 

 change with every angle at which the light 

 strikes them. They are the colors that 

 gleam in the pearl and glow in the opal, 

 that give to ancient glass its exquisite beauty. • 

 They are colors that, in an animal, are apt 



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