DRAGON-FLY. 
370 
by degrees to expand themselves, and in about half 
an hour they have acquired a sufficient degree of 
firmness, and are moreover completely smooth and 
dry; so that the animal is shortly afterwards enabled 
to try its strength in the air. This Surprising 
operation is generally accomplished in the fore part 
of the day, and during a clear sunshine. The total 
change effected in this animal’s habits and consti- 
tution, in passing from one state to the other, is too 
obvious to escape our notice ; and we cannot help 
being greatly astonished when we consider that the 
animal, which but an hour ago could not exist for 
any length of time out of the water, would now 
almost immediately be drowned if plunged into 
that element. In disposition, however, the creature 
remains the same, and, far from being idly or inno- 
cently employed, is in fact the greatest tyrant of 
the insect tribe, and, like the hawk among birds, is 
constantly hovering about in search of prey. The 
blue fly, the bee, the wasp, and the hornet, are alike 
the objects of its choice : it will even attack a large 
butterfly, and, tearing it wing from wing, devour the 
whole body in less than a minute. These insects 
seize their prey with their claws, and tear it in 
pieces with their teeth. 
As the wings of the libellula are long, and the 
legs short, they seldom walk, but are ever seen 
either resting or flying. For this reason, they always 
choose dry branches of trees or shrubs to remain on ; 
and when they have refreshed themselves a little, 
they renew their flight. Thus they are seen adorn- 
