THE DRAGON-FLY. 



Dra^on-fiies may be caagfat with a net near ponds and streams, 

 where the larvte are foand in the water dariajT;- Jaly and August, 

 and the pnp^ in spring and antnmn. The larvae and pnpse can be 

 kept in the schoolroom in a jar of water, with sand at the bottom. 

 The latter will need a water-plant, or some leaves and twigs, to 

 which they can cling. The contrast between the sluErgish young 

 and the swift-flying adult insect will seem to children so marvelous 

 that it will awaken a new interest in insect study. It gives them 

 a glimpse of the possibilities the insect world offers of new 

 discoveries, and makes them eager to observe living forms, the very 

 thing we most want them to do. 



The dragon-fly has the three parts of the body, but the 

 abdomen is very long. His head is so loose it looks as 

 if it might drop o£P. He has a hamp on his back because 

 his thorax is so high. He has three pairs of legs and two 

 pairs of wings. The legs are all crowded together. The 

 wings are very large, and the two pairs are nearly the 

 same size. He uses both pairs in flying. The dragonfly 



