26 



FIRST LESSONS IN ZOOLOGY 



diately after moultiny the bod}' wall is very soft, and light 

 greenish or grayish in color, but it gradually hardens and 

 darkens. When its growth and development is com- 

 pleted the nymph will climb out of the water on some 

 firm object, and, fixing its feet solidly, ^\'ill proceed to 

 transform, by means of a final moult, into the adult or imago 



stage. The cuticle or horny 

 outer-skin laj'er splits along 

 the middle of the back of the 

 head and front part of the 

 body, and out of this crack 

 the winged dragon-fly slowly 

 emerges. When this trans- 

 formation takes place out- 

 doors it usually occurs early 

 in the morning. " If one can 

 be out at the pond by six 

 o'clock some clear morning, 

 when the adults of some 

 dragon-fly that is known to 

 be common are beginning 

 to appear, he may be sure 

 of finding them transform- 



FiG. 14. — D:imsel-flics (narrow 

 wiriyed dragon-flies). (Natura 

 size; from life.) 



ing. There will be some nymphs crawling up the banks, 

 imagos pulling themselves out of their old n}'mph skins, 

 others drying their wings, others ready to fly, and all 

 within a few feet of the margin of the water. . . . 

 At noon one would find only dry and empty nymph-skins 

 clinging to the sedges. And there, unless beaten down 

 by wind or rain, each empty husk still clings, useless 

 now, or sometimes furnishing a night's shelter to some 

 mendicant plant-bug, until the festive, sportive, aerial 

 life i)f its former occupant has run its swift course." 



for a good account of dragon-flies see pp. 54-72, in 

 "Outdoor Studies," b)' (anies C Xeedham. 



