■D R A 
D R A 
if: the Linnaean fyftem ^ and known in England by 
the name of Adder or Dragon Flies. The cha- 
radlers are thefe: they are furnifhed with jaws; the 
antennae are fliorter than the thorax ; the wings are 
extended ; and the tail of the male is terminated by 
a kind of hooked" forceps. 
Thefe infefts are the mofb various as well as 
moft beautiful of all the Flies which either adorn or 
diverfify the face of nature; they are of green, blue, 
white, crimfon, and fcarlet colours : in fome a va- 
riety of the moft vivid tints are united; and even 
all the com.binations of fliades to be found in the 
rainbow are fometimes exhibited in one fingle ani- 
mal. They are eafily diftinguiflied from all other 
infefts by the length of their bodies, the largenefs 
of their eyes, and the beautiful tranfparency of their 
wings. In fummer, they are feen flying v/ith great 
rapidity near almoft every hedge and ftream : they 
fometimes fettle on the leaves of plants, when an 
attentive obferver may contemplate their beauties; 
and at other times they continue on the wing for 
hours together, without difcovering the fmalleft 
figns of laffitude. Though there are various fpe- 
cies of this genus, they all agree in the moft ftrik- 
ing parts of their hiftory; and therefore one gene- 
ral defcription will fuffice to difplay the nature of 
the Vv'hole. 
All thefe Flies are produced from eggs depofited 
in the w^ater, where they remain for fome time 
without any feeming life or motion. They are 
ejed:ed from the female in clufters refcmbling 
bunches of grapes ; and, finking to the bottom by 
their fpecific weight, continue in that ftate till the 
young ones acquire ftrength fufficient to break 
their fhells, and to feparate from each other. The 
form under which they firft indicate figns of ani- 
mation is that of a fix-legged worm, which bears 
a ftrong refemblance to the Dragon Fly in it's 
wing;ed ftate, except that the wings ftill remain 
concealed within a ftieath peculiar to this ani- 
mal, folded up into each other; while all the 
colours and varieties of painting appear tranfpa- 
rent through the ficin. After quitting the eggs, 
thefe animalcules continue in the water, where they 
creep and fwim about with a kind of deliberate 
motion. Being very quick-fighted, they inftantly 
defcend to the bottom on the fmalleft approach of 
danger; in which fituation they fubfift on foft mud, 
and whatever glutinous or earthy ftfbftances come 
in their way. 
On the arrival of that period in v/hich the tranf- 
formation of this infe(5l from it's reptile to it's fly- 
iiig ftate commences, it withdraws from the liquid 
element to fome dry fituation, among grafs, wood, 
or ftones, where it fixes it's acute claws with great 
firmnefs, and for a fhort time remains wholly im- 
moveable, as if contemplating it's approaching 
change. Soon afterwards, the fkin firft divides it- 
felf on the head and back, from which opening 
the real head and eyes appear; and, laftly, the fix 
legs; while, in the mean time, the hollow flough of 
the legs continues to adhere to it's place. The 
inclofed animal then creeps forwards by degrees, 
difengaging firft it's wings, and then it's body, 
from the furrounding fl'cin; and, proceeding a little 
farther, again refts for fome time as if diverted of 
locomotion. The wings, which before were moift 
and folded, begin gradually to expand themfelves, 
and to fmoothe thofe plaits which are placed againft 
each other like a clofed fan. The body is like- 
wife infenfibly extended, till each of the limbs 
acquires it's proper fize and dimenfions; all which 
furprizing and difficult operations are effeiVed by 
the energy of the blood and the circulating hu- 
mours. 
The infe£t being at firft incapable of ufing it's 
new wings, it is therefore under the necefTity of 
remaining in the fanie place till it's limbs are dried 
by the furrounding air. However, it is foon ca- 
pacitated to enter on a more noble fphere of life 
than it had hitherto enjoyed ; and, from creeping 
flowly, and living accidentally, it now wings the 
air, and felefts it's food from the various ftores of 
nature. Indeed, no animal is more amply fitted 
for motion, fubfiftence, and enjoyment, than the 
Dragon Fly; in order to which, nature has fur- 
niflied it with two large eyes, which occupy almoft 
the whole fpace of the head, and refemble fhining 
mother*of-pearl. It has four expanfive v/ings, 
with which it can turn irfelf with prodigious velo- 
city ; and, in order to aiTift thefe, it is furniflied with 
a very long body, which direfts it's motions after 
the manner of a rudder. 
The wings of thefe infefts being long, and their 
legs flrort, they feidom walk, but are generally ob- 
icrved either at reft or in the adt of flying : for this 
reafbn alfo they always alight on dry branches or 
ftn-ubs ; and, when they have fufficiently refrefhed 
themfelves, purfue their erratic v/ay. Thus they 
adorn the moft delightful feafon of the year with 
a profufion of beauty, lightly traverfing the air in 
a thoufind direftions, and expanding their moft 
charming tints to the beams of the fun. The gar- 
dens, the forefts, the hedges, and the rivulets, are 
animated by their fports; and perhaps there are 
but few individuals, whole early years have been 
fpent in the country, who have not at intervals 
amufed themfelves with the purfuit of fome of thele 
beautiful infefts. But while they appear to us fo 
idly and innocently employed, they are in reality 
the greateft tyrants of the infecl tribes; and, like 
the hawk among other birds, are only perambulat- 
ing the aerial regions in queft of prey. They are 
among the ftrongeft and moft courageous of all 
winged infefts ; nor is there one, however large, 
tliat they v/ill not attack, and frequently with fuc- 
cefs: the blue-fly, the bee, the wafp, and the hor- 
net, are their conftant prey ; and even the butterfly, 
with all it's expanfion of wing, is often arrefted by 
them, and facrificed without mercy. Their appe- 
tite feems to be unbounded ; they ipend whole days 
in purfuit of other infefts ; and have been frequently 
known to devour three times their own bulk in the 
fpace of a fingle hour. When flying, they dart 
luddenly on their prey, feize it with their fix claws, 
and eafily tear it to pieces with their teeth, which 
are capable of inflifting very dangerous wounds. 
Plowever, male Dragon Flies do not continue 
on the v/ing for the fole gratification of the appe- 
tite of hunger; they are alfo extremely lalacious, 
defiring the females with great ardour. Wlien 
the vernal fun begins to warm the face of nature 
with his genial beams, the males arc aftlduoufly 
employed in feeking their mates ; and no fooner 
does a female appear, than two or three males pur- 
fue her, and endeavour to captivate her by all the 
little arts and kindneflTes of which they are capable. 
The inftrument of generation in the male is very 
difierently fituated from that of any other infeft, 
being placed immediately under tlie breaft, and 
confequently, at firft view, appearing wholly inca- 
pable of coming in contaft with the fexual part of 
the female; which, as in other infefts, lies in the 
tail. To efi^eft this junftion, however, nature has 
3 taught 
