Libellula. NEUROPTERA. i 5l 



ly voracious ; Linnaeus calls them the Hawks 

 of Gymnopterous infefls. The larvse of both 

 live and run, rather than fwim, in the water ; 

 they devour aquatic infefts weaker than them- 

 fehes, and are not lefs voracious than the corn- 

 pleat infers ; they are likewife exceedingly cruel, 

 being frequently obferved to kill and tear other 

 infects to pieces when not prefTcd by hunger, 

 fince they leave the carcafes entire. 



The figure of the larva is very fingular, and 

 may be feen in Geoffroy^ torn. 2. tab. 



The chryfalis differs very little from the larva, 

 and like it runs with great agility in the water, 

 devouring fmaller infects. It generally quits 

 the water before it undergoes its final change- 

 ment. 



The manner in which fomeof theLibellulaeef- 

 feftuate the work of generation is truly fingular : 

 the male purfues his female on the wing, and in- 

 flead of endeavouring to win her by gentle 

 means to his embraces, feizes her with the for- 

 ceps at his tail by the neck, where he holds her 

 fa.ft, till fhe, to get quit of fo curaberfome a bur- 

 then, willingly, or unwillingly, approaches her 

 tail, in which are fituate her organs of genera- 

 tion to the breaft of her ravifher (under which 

 his, fexuaj parts are placed) thus united in a kind 



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