DRAGON-FLIES, ETC. 223 



that these hind-wings are of a shining metallic 

 purple at the base, Ayith a foil-like kind of gleam, 

 which shades through imperceptible gradations of the 

 richest olive into a brilliant orange, which towards 

 the middle of the whig reaches the intensity of a 

 refulgent scarlet, the whole surface having the tex- 

 ture and kind of radiation that is seen in leaf-gold. 



As regards the Chinese species, I think the larva 

 might be brought to England in well-contrived 

 Vivaria, and that we might naturalize those mag- 

 nificent insects in our brooks and rivers, as I shall 

 explain more fully when treating of the culture of 

 exotic insects in general, if space should permit. And 

 before quitting the subject of Dragon-flies, I may 

 suggest to such as wish to know more about them 

 that they will find abundance of information in 

 the works of Vanderlinden, Charpcntiev, Selys, and 

 Pictet, accompanied by a very beautiful series of 

 plates of all the species ; and for a recent list of all 

 the English species I may refer them to that by 

 Dr. Haagen in " Stainton's Entomologist" for 1857. 



The Caddis Worm tribe will form interesting 

 subjects in the water of the Vivarium, and if the 

 larvae are secured at a period when they are 

 near their change, the appearance of the moth-like 

 ephemera would form an interesting event in the 



