Dragon-Flies 



considerable extent. The eyes are very large, but the antennae 

 are small and short. The wings are elongate, nearly equal in 

 size, and have many veins, both longitudinal and transverse, so 

 that the entire surface of the wing is cut up into many small 

 cells. The legs are placed near the front of the thorax, and all 

 curve forward and are used for grasping the prey of the dragon- 

 fly, and never for walking. In fact, the legs are unfitted for 

 walking, although they are used to grasp the twig or other 

 object upon which the dragon-fly may rest. All of the dragon- 

 flies are aquatic in their early stages. The metamorphosis is 

 complete in so far that the larvae differ radically in appearance 

 from the adults, but the pupa is not quiescent at any time. It is 

 very active, and feeds up to the moment when the final meta- 

 morphosis begins. The jaws in all stages are strong, and both 

 larvae and adults are extremely active and are among the strongest 

 and most graceful flyers of all insects. Their flight is so perfect 

 that it has been seriously suggested that flying machines should 

 be modeled after the flight mechanism of these insects. 



A very peculiar feature of the adult is the curious separation 

 in the male of the intromittent organs from the opening of the 

 ejaculatory duct. The former are placed on the under side of the 

 second abdominal segment, while the latter are on the next to the 

 last ventral plate. Therefore, before copulation, the male curves 

 his abdomen around beneath, so that the ninth segment of the 

 abdomen is brought into contact with the second, thus transfer- 

 ring the fertilizing fluid to the intromittent organ. The tip of 

 the abdomen of the female is bent around and joins with the 

 under side of the second segment of the male's abdomen, the 

 male frequently grasping the female around the neck with certain 

 appendages at the extremity of his abdomen. He retains this 

 hold after fertilization, and frequently during the entire process of 

 egg-laying. Even with such species as descend under the 

 surface of the water to lay their eggs the male has been observed 

 to still retain his grasp of the female's neck, and to be carried 

 down under the water with her. 



Dragon-flies capture their prey on the wing, and feed upon 

 almost all flying insects, especially the small ones — that is, the 

 gnats and midges. They alter their direction with perfect facility, 

 and dart here and there, unerringly capturing their prey. Pos- 

 sibly some of the smallest are seized with the jaws, but the larger 



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