358 
TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
and above it, on the leaves, a perfect insect may be seen crawling 
out of the skin of the nymph preparatory to taking flight. 
The Agrionidce have slender bodies, and the abdomen is cylin- 
drical, and in the shape of a rod. They are usually very small 
dragon flies, and there is a very common one whose males are 
of a beautiful blue metallic colour, with a greenish-blue band on 
the wings, and whose females are of a most brilliant green colour. 
When we compare some of the members of the family of the 
metamorphoses OF the common ant lion. ( Mynneleou formicarium.) 
Myrmeleori id<z, or Ant Lions, with the dragon flies, there does 
not appear to be much difference between them, and there are 
really very close affinities between the two families, so far as 
their adults or perfect insects are concerned. But there are 
very considerable distinctions to be noticed in the nature of the 
metamorphosis and the habits of the larvse. The Myrmclconidce 
live on dry land in their early conditions of life. They undergo 
complete metamorphoses, and their larvm, which are short, squat, 
and always carnivorous, are not in the least like the perfect insects. 
