WONDERS OF POND LIFE. 1 83 



the body by means of spines on its head. Here it 

 lives as a boarder, inclosed tti a tight sack until 

 some hungry minnow passing by, gulps down the 

 larva, young hair-worm and all. No sooner has 

 the process of digestion set it free from its sack 

 within the body of the maggot than it begins to 

 make another bag for itself within the lining of 

 the fish's intestines, where it lives five or six 

 months. At the end of this period it is cast forth 

 into its world of waters, remaining in a quiet con- 

 dition until it has grown two inches or more in 

 length, when it turns a rusty color and begins to 

 move as we see it now. 



Along the borders of the stream, amongst sub- 

 merged grasses and half-decayed plants, we bring 

 up the larvse of that hawk of insects, the dragon- 

 fly. It is no less ferocious in its mask than when 

 shooting and zigzagging along over the surface of 

 its former dwelling-place. If we wish to preserve 

 our other specimens we must put it in solitary 

 confinement. Notwithstanding its ugliness in ap- 

 pearance and action, it is very entertaining to 

 examine with the glass. 



As in the perfect dragon-fly this larva has large, 

 bulging eyes necessary to seek its prey in the 

 water. Seen from beneath, one would not suspect 



