LAEV^ OF WATEK-FLIES. 247 



state. The insect's appearance as a pupa is very different 

 from that ■which it had as a larva. Its wings, legs, and 

 antennae are then placed close to the sides of its body. The 

 pupa's only movements while in the case are said to be 

 oscillations from side to side. After spending a few weeks in 

 the pupal state it breaks the covering at one end of its tube 

 and swims very swiftly to the surface of the water; then it 

 mounts some protruding stone or aquatic plant, and remains 

 there while the pupal envelope splits, and it — a perfect insect 

 — is free. Some pnpse, however, do not leave the surface of 

 the water, but float there until they emerge fully-developed 

 Caddis-flies. 



Everybody knows a Dragon-fly when he sees it; but every- 

 body does not know what an exceedingly interesting creature 

 it really is, especially during that portion of its life which it 

 spends in the water. The Dragon-fly, of which we have in 

 England foi-ty-six species, is one of the most beautiful, aid 

 the most voracious, of all our insects. It is often called by 

 country people the " Horse-Sting " or " Horse-Stinger," and 

 sometimes also, I believe, the "Flying Adder." But it does 

 not deserve such names, for it has no sting at all. That 

 which is taken for a sting is an appai'atus given by Nature 

 to the male Dragon-fly for the purpose of carrying off a wife. 

 This gay and gaudily-dressed courtier seizes his lady-Jove 

 round the neck with the claspers situated on the last segment 

 but one of his body, and leads her away as his own. Pairs 

 of Dragon-flies thus united may be frequently seen in summer- 

 time making their flight together in tandem fashion. The 

 female Dragon-fly deposits her eggs either singly or in 

 bunches in the water or very close to its edge. Sometimes 

 they are attached to the stems of water-plants, and sometimes 

 also, it is said, they are inserted by females of some species, 

 by means of an ovipositor, in small incisions made in aquatic 

 weeds. Occasionally, the Dragon-fly has been seen to go 

 beneath the surface of the water, by crawling along the stalk 

 of a suitable plant, for the purpose of laying her eggs. 



Dragon-flies are divided into three sub-families, viz. : (1) 

 Mschnidve, (2) Libellidides, (3) Agrionides. 



