FAMILY AGR.IONID/E 



These are the true damsel flies, and are the small, graceful 

 species with extremely slender bodies and narrow, clear wings, 

 which are very commonly found flying over large bodies of still 

 water, and with which every one who has ever rowed a boat on 

 a fresh water lake must be perfectly familiar. They are found in 

 great numbers in the reedy borders of the fresh water ponds and 

 lakes over the entire country. All of our North American species 

 are small, but in tropical regions they grow to large size, and 

 some South American forms are among the largest species of the 

 order Odonata. They do not fly high in the air, but frequent 

 low-growing aquatic vegetation. The colors as a rule are rather 

 dull, but the slender bodies of some are brilliantly blue, green or 

 even yellow, and sometimes red. 



The family is a large one, and about seventy-five species are 

 known in this country. Lestes and Enallagma are the largest 

 genera. 



37i 



