D R A 
D R A 
taught the male a very peculiar mode of proce- 
dure : and Homberg, of the Parifian Academy, who 
has furnifhed us with many remarkable particu- 
lars relative to thefe animalcules, thus defcribes the 
whole procefs of this ftrange contaft. ' As foon as 
the male perceives his mate; and finds himfclf fuf- 
ficiently near, he feizes on the back of her head by 
furprize; and darting his claws into it, twills his 
forky tail round her neck, and in this manner fixes 
himielf fo very firmly and clofely, that no efforts of 
the female can difengage him. In vain does Ihe 
fly from one branch to another; he obftinately 
maintains his hold, often for two or three hours 
fuccefllvely. When he flies, flie is alfo conftrained 
to fly with him, but he appears to be the Ible di- 
rector of the way; and though her wings feem to 
be in motion, ihe is neverthelefs guided folely by 
his movements. As yet, however, the bufinefs of 
impregnation is unaccompliflied, for to tliis the 
female mufl: contribute. Wearied with importu- 
nity, flie feems at laft to comply ; and, inclining the 
end of her tail to that part of the male's breaft: in 
which the inftrument of generation is placed, both 
members meet, and the eggs of the female receive 
the neceffary fecundation : in the ipace of an hour 
or two afterwards, fhe flies to fome neighbouring 
poo], in order to depofit them ; and in this fituation 
they continue in a reptile ftate for a whole year ; 
after which they afllime the beautiful colours of 
the winged parent.' 
Linnaeus, with his accuftomed precifion, divides 
Dragon Flies into the middle-fized, the fnall, and 
the great fpeciesi; in each of which clafl"cs lie de- 
fcribes feveral varieties. 
Dragon Fly, with a filky, fliining body, and 
wings of a yellowifh dulky colour ; termed by Ray 
the middle-fized libella with a blueifli green body, 
and dun wings without fpots. This infecl, which 
frequents the fides of rivers, is of a blueifii colour 
inclining to black ; and the wings are a yellowilli 
brown, without any of thofe fpecks von their ex- 
ternal edges which are ufually feen in the other 
kinds. 
Dragon Fly, with a blue fhining body, and 
wings of a blueifli green, duflcy at the points, and 
without fpots on the edges ; called by Ray the mid- 
dle-fized libella with a blue body, and the greateft 
part of the wings of a blackifli blue colour. This 
fpecies, -which frequents rivers, is in figure like the 
former, except that the wings are a blackifli blue, 
with pale brown tips ; and that the tail is corneous 
at the extremity. 
Dragon Fly, with a greenifli blue body, duiliy 
wings, and white fpots on their edges; called by 
Ray the middle-fized libella with a green body, 
and wings of a dun-colour marked with fmall 
white fpots near the extreme angle. The body is 
a lucid green ; the feet are black ; and the wings 
are brown, and marked on their edges with white 
oblong fpots. Some naturalifts have llippol'ed 
this infeCl to be the female of the preceding fpe- 
cies. 
Dragon Fly, with a filky fliining bodv, and 
the wings of a dufliy gold colour marked with 
black fpots ; termed by Ray the middle-fized li- 
bella, with a body partly green, and partly blue ; 
and the wings, marked in the middle with very 
large blueifli black fpots. The body is a bright 
blue ; the feet are black ; half of the wings next the 
point are a blueifli black ; the points are a gilded 
brown ; and the other lialf of the wings near ti:e 
bafe are a gold-colour. 
The foregoing fpecies are all of the middle fizc- 
The following are of the fmall clafs. 
Dragon Fly, with a filky body, and the v/ings 
marked on their edges with duflcy fpots ; called by 
Ray the lefl^er libella with reticulated wings, a 
green back, and v/hitifli furrows. The back of 
this infedt, which flutters on the fides of marihes, 
is of a copper colour; the wings, which fliine as if 
gilded, and are marked on the edges with rhom- 
boid al brown fpots, are compofed of two nerves 
peculiar to this fpecies; the breafl:, belly, and fides, 
are of a livid colour; the eyes are cinereous, buc 
brown above ; the head, as far as the back, is of a 
copper hue ; and the antenns are black, fliort, and 
clubbed at the lafl: joint. 
Dr.^con Fly, with a flelli-coloured body, and 
wings having duflcy fpots on their edges; termed 
by Ray the middle-fized libella, with two black 
fpots near it's incisures. This fpecies greatly re- 
fembles the preceding bodi in fize andfliapc; buc 
near the furrows of the belly there are black lines 
or characters, and brownifli fpots on the edges of 
the wings. 
Dragon Fly, with a filky body, and the edges 
of the wings marked with black ipots; called bv 
Ray the libella with a blueifli livid body. ' The 
wings of this fpecies are vv'hite; and the upper part 
of the body is of a greenifli fliining blue. 
Dragon Fly, with a blue body variegated with 
cinereous, and black fpoVo on tlie edges of the 
wings; named by Ray the leflcr libella with fnort 
v/ings, and a blue body marked with tranfverle 
black fpots. The fize and fliapeofthis infeCt re- 
iemble thofe of the preceding; but tlie wings arc 
white; and the joints of the belly, wlien viewed 
b^?fore, are cinereous; but, when feen behind, of 
a fiiining blue. 
The following aie of the large clafs of Lin- 
naeus. 
Dragon Fly, with double fpots on the edges 
of the v/ings ; called by Ray the greatefl: libella, 
with a long, fliining, flender, linooth, greenifli belly, 
at the beginning, but becoming niore tumid near 
the end. This fpecies is diflinguiflied from all 
the otliers by two fpots on the wings, which are 
white, except towards theu" bales, where they are 
yellow, and underneath them of a blackifli hue. 
Dragon Fly, with v/hite wings, but yellow at 
their bales; termed by Ray the greatefl: libeija;^. 
with a broad, fliort, yellow belly. This infe6t is- 
yellow on the back, and black underneath; and on. 
each fide there are two oblique yellow lines. The 
forehead is green; the eyes are grey^; th.e feet are 
black; and the wings,, at their bafes, are rufl"- 
coloured. 
Dragon Fly, with a duflcy body and white 
v/ings ; called by Ray the greatefl: libella, with a? 
yellow, narrow body; but having no duflcy fpots 
at the bafes of the wings. The body of this fpe- 
cies is black; the wings are wliite, with reddifa- 
Srown foots on their edges; and tlie vent is deili- 
tute of any appendage. 
Dragon Fly, v/lth yellow fides and white- 
wings. This variety is commonly feen fporting; 
on the water. The fides of die breaft and belly 
are of a yellow colour; and the ipecks on tlie 
edges of the wings have a brown rufiy hue. 
Dragon Fly, with a green fliining breafl', yel- 
low lines, pale wings, and aduflcy belly; called by" 
Ray the great libella with a fliort blue belly. The 
head and breaft are of a lucid green colour; the 
ej'es ate brown; there are two yellow lines on the 
