THE IiUTTEUFLY VIVARIUM. 21 



the different species of Dragon-flies should hold the 

 first place, as their transformations are among the 

 most remarkable in the whole range of insect 

 changes ; the first portion of their existence being 

 strictly aquatic, while in their perfected state the 

 last portion becomes as entirely aerial ; a fact which 

 appears, at a glance, almost as astonishing as though 

 a fish should, by a series of transformations, become 

 eventually a bird. The larvte of the flat-bodied and 

 that of the purple-winged Dragon-flies are repre- 

 sented at the bottom of the water, where they form a 

 singular contrast to the elegant winged form which 

 they are destined eventually to assume, and which 

 is shown fluttering above the surface near the same 

 part of the case. 



A few larvae of the Gnat should also be present, 

 though not represented in our drawing, as their 

 playful gambols, ascending and descending in the 

 water, and occasionally suspending themselves to 

 the surface by their star-like breathing apparatus, 

 would form very pleasing episodes in the daily story 

 of the Vivarium. There might be also the larvie 

 and the perfected form of the great Water Beetle, 

 Jlydrophilus Ficeus, which is not destructive, either 

 in its larva or imago states, and its fine action in 

 swimming is always an agreeable spectacle to the 



