368 
DRAGON-FLY. 
aquatic and other plants, from whence it darts like 
an arrow on being disturbed. The colours of this 
insect are very splendid. Its large blue eyes, con- 
trasted with its greenish yellow thorax and varie- 
gated body, give it a very elegant appearance, which 
is again assisted by its double pair of fine gauze-like 
wings. 
There is something very striking in the different 
stages of this animal’s existence. Who would sup- 
pose that so brilliant an insect as this is, with so 
much strength and vivacity, had formerly resided 
for nearly two years at the bottom of the very water 
on whose surface he is now flying in search of prey ? 
Would any one imagine that all these gaudy colours 
were once hid under the appearance of a dirty 
brown-coloured grub? Yet nothing is more true; and 
the history of this wonderful transformation is nearly 
as follows : 
The eggs are deposited by the female in the 
water, and immediately sink to the bottom, hang- 
ing together in clusters like grapes. After a certain 
time they are hatched into flattish larvae with six 
legs. These larvae or caterpillars cast their skins 
several times before they arrive at their full size, 
when they are of a dirty brown colour, and of a 
very disagreeable appearance. There is but little 
difference between the larva and the chrysalis ; 
perhaps it chiefly consists in the rudiments of the 
future wings, which may be traced when the in- 
sect is in this advanced state. They are exceed- 
ingly voracious while they continue to inhabit the 
