XX INSECTA : NEUROPTERA 307 



same spot. The larvae have tracheal gills of the same type 

 as those in Agrionidae. 



Single genus. Oalopteryz (Gk. Imjlos, beautiful ; pteron, a 

 wing). — There are only two species of this genus, 

 0. mrgo, in which the wings are coloured almost 

 entirely blue in the male, whilst in the female 

 they are bro'vvnish ; and G. splendens, in which the 

 wings of the male have a large blue patch on them, 

 whilst those of the female are greyish. 



Practical Notes on Dkagon-flies 



1. So far as possible the whole life-history of an Aeschna and 

 an Ayrion should be followed. In any case, full-grown nymphs 

 should be obtained in the summer, and their wonderful meta- 

 morphosis into winged insects watched throughout, drawings being 

 made, or photographs taken, at intervals. 



When the nymphs are brought home from the pond, they must 

 be put into a tank where there is plenty of vegetation, and where 

 some of the plants rise well above the surface of the water ; indeed 

 it is often advisable to put in several rough sticks weighted at 

 the lower end and projecting a foot above the water, so that plenty 

 of easy means of exit are provided for the nymph. If this is 

 neglected, or inadequate exits are provided, the Dragon-fly when 

 it emerges will wet its wings and be seriously injured. 



If the nymphs in the tank are not full grown, they will need 

 regular feeding, and unfortunately it only seems possible to keep 

 them healthy by giving them living food. Tadpoles and other 

 larvae form their natural diet, but they may sometimes be induced 

 to feed on blow-fly larvae (" gentles ") and pupae.^ 



2. Stvidy carefully the appearance and habits of any dragon-flies 

 you see, identifying the species by reference to British Dragon-flies, 

 by W. J. Lucas, in which coloured plates and descriptions of all 

 chief genera and species are given. 



' They will sometimes eat raw meat, but I have not been able to rear them 

 successfully on this diet only. 



