AMONG THE DRAGONFLIES. 
23 
the new growth of the young pine trees. But the Dragon¬ 
flies were not so safe when on the wing. Again and again 
a shadow would fall, straight as an arrow, from the tree- 
tops, and a Kingbird or other Flycatcher would rise with 
a victim in his mouth. Soon after, the bright wings of the 
Dragonfly would be seen falling, shimmering, through the 
branches of the trees. It was all a tragedy, but such a 
traged)^ as was worth going many miles to see. 
“There must be thousands of Mayflies and hundreds of 
Dragonflies,” said the Conservative Observer. “ Millions 
and thousands!” exclaimed the Boy, as he hurried on, 
brandishing his net, but only to check himself a moment 
later, his naturalist’s instinct having suggested that he 
might spoil the show if he came on the stage before getting 
his cue. He did, however, take in his net a fine specimen 
of Macromia illinoiensis (it has no English name) which 
had just seized a Mayfly. He held it by the wings while 
it went 011 eating its victim as calmly as if death were not 
staring it also in the face. Slowly the Mayfly was taken 
in, head foremost, until only the caudal bristles remained 
outside, and these, too, finally disappeared. Then the 
Boy released the Dragonfly, but it was a short reprieve, for 
a Kingbird pounced upon him as he flew away, and soon 
after his gauzy wings came falling slowly from a tree-top. 
The Kingbird, if he knew, when he had appropriated the 
Mayfly and the Dragonfly, one within the other, might 
have felt somewhat like the mate of the Nancy brig. 
There were four Kingbirds and several other representa¬ 
tives of the Flycatcher family which shared greedily in 
this Feast of the Dragonflies, and the shining wings fell 
thickly for a time. Then the curtain came down upon the 
tragedy. The Mayflies ceased to dance ; the Dragonflies 
sought the shelter of the twigs, and the birds flew away to 
look for victims elsewhere. The shadow of a large pine 
had covered the amphitheater, and all was still. The Boy 
