94 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
pleasant shadow from the heat” (for it was about 
noon), idly watching the motions of a large Dragon- 
fly {jEsJina). In the clear water there was a 
number of the young fry of some small fish, most 
of them not more than an inch in length, swim- 
ming in little shoals near to the surface. The 
Dragon-fly had been hawking to and fro over the 
brook some time ; at length he dashed down into 
the water where a few of the fry were swimming, 
and made quite a little splash, but did not go under. 
He rose again immediately, but without success 
evidently, as he continued his hawking as before. 
The fry darted away in all directions from the 
intruder’s attack, of course, but soon re-assembled 
and came to the surface as before. The Dragon-fly, 
not discouraged by failure^ presently made another 
pounce, and now succeeded better, for he instantly 
settled for a few minutes upon a twig on the bank, 
as their manner invariably is when they take prey, 
to eat it. On the closest examination, I could 
discover nothing else in the water that could be 
supposed to be the object of his attack. The food 
of the Dragon-flies has been universally believed, 
as far as I am aware, to consist exclusively of insects, 
which are always caught in the air, though eaten 
at rest. The singular selection made by this indi- 
vidual is not less remarkable than the fact that it 
should venture into the water to obtain it. I have 
no doubt that young fish often form the prey of 
these insects in their early stages, when they are 
aquatic, as they are large and very voracious ; and 
we know that the larvie of the greater water-beetles 
{Dyticidce) devour fish. 
A few miles away, in a very unfirequented part 
of the forest, there is a shallow pool of considerable 
