LIBELLULA. 19 



sects. When the chrysalis, which is in no 

 degree less active than the larva, is about to 

 be transformed, it creeps up the stem of a 

 water-plant, and making an effort by which 

 the skin is burst, slowly emerges from its sheath, 

 which is left behind sticking to the plant. 

 This is generally effected in the morning, and 

 in the sun-shine, that the wings may be sooner 

 dry, and as little time lost of the short com- 

 parative space allotted to the insect to skim the 

 surface of the pools as possible. The change 

 of the Libellula from one state of life to the 

 other is striking. Deprive the larva of water, 

 and it will die ; plunge the perfect insect into 

 the same element, and it will be as effectually 

 destroyed. 



SPECIFICATION. 



Libellula quadrimaculata. L. alis posticis basi 

 omnibusque medio antico macula nigricante. 

 Linn. Sy$t. Nat. p. 901. Gmel.p. 2619. Fabr. Ent. 

 Syst. 3. p. 373. Spec. Ins. l.p. 519. Mant. Ins. 1. 

 p. 336. 

 Reaum. Ins. 6. t. 35. f. 1, 2. 



