284 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
They are seen in summer flying with great rapidity near 
every hedge, and by every running brook ; they sometimes 
settle on the leaves of plants, and sometimes keep for hours 
together on the wing. 
Dragon-flies, though there are three or four different kinds, 
yet agree in the most striking parts of their history, and one 
account may serve for all. The largest sort are generally 
found from two to three inches long: their tail is forked; 
their body divided into eleven rings ; their eyes are large, 
horny, and transparent, divided by a number of intersections; 
and their wings, that always lie flat when they are at rest, 
are of a beautiful glossy transparency ; sometimes shining 
like silver, and sometimes glistening like gold. Within the 
mouth are to be seen two teeth covered with a beautiful lip : 
with these the creatures bite fiercely when they are taken ; 
but their bite is perfectly harmless. 
These insects, beautiful as they are, are produced from 
eggs, which are deposited in the water, where they remain 
for some time without seeming life or motion. They are 
ejected by the female into the water in clusters, like a bunch 
of grapes, where they sink to the bottom by their natural 
weight, and continue in that state till the young ones find 
strength enough to break the shell, and to separate from each 
Other. The form in which they first shew life is that of a 
worm with six legs, bearing a strong resemblance to the 
dragon-fly in its winged state, except that the wings are yet 
concealed within a sheath peculiar to this animal. The 
rudiments of these appear in bunches on the back, within 
which the wings are folded up into each other, while all the 
colours and varieties of painting appear transparent through 
the skin. These animals, upon quitting the egg, still con- 
tinue in the water, where they creep and swim, but do not 
move swiftly. They have likewise a sharp sight, and imme- 
diately sink to the bottom, if any one comes to the places 
where they live, or whenever they perceive the least 
uncommon object. Their food at that time is soft mud 
and the glutinous earthy substances that are found at the 
bottom. 
When these animals prepare to change from their reptile 
to their flying state, they then move out of the water to a 
dry place ; as into grass, to pieces of wood, stone, or any 
thing else they meet with. There they firmly fix their acute 
claws ; and, for a short time, continue quite immoveable, as 
if meditating on the change they are to undergo. It is then 
observed, that the skin first opens on the head and back ; 
and out of this opening they exhibit their real head and eyes, 
