DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18956#0184
90
Dragon flies are distinguished srom all other ssies by the length os
their bodies, the largeness os their eyes, and the beautisul transpa-
rency os their wings, which are sour in number; they are seen in
summer flying with great rapidity near the banks of rivers; they
can continue on the wing for several hours, but are srequently seen to
settle on the leaves and stalks os water plants. The largest sort are
generally found srom two to three inches long ; their tail is sorked,
and the body divided into rings; their eyes are large, horny, and
transparent; within the mouth are to be seen two teeth, covered with
a beautisul lip ; with these this insect bites siercely when it is taken,
but its bite is persectly harmless. No animal is more aptly sitted sor
motion, subsistence, and enjoyment. Their large eyes enable them to
descry their prey while whirling through the air in a thousand disserent
directions; and, expanding their golden wings to the sun, they add
greatly to the beauty os English landscape. But while these beautisul
ssies appear to us so idly and innocently employed, they are in sact
the greatest tyrants of the insect tribe ; and, like the hawk among the
birds, are only hovering up and down to seize their prey. They are
the strongest and most courageous os all winged insects, nor is there
one, however large, that they will not attack and devour; the blue
ssy, the wasp, the bee, and the hornet, are their constant prey ; and
even the butterssy, that spreads so large a wing, is osten caught and
treated without mercy. Their appetite seems to know no bounds;
they are always in pursuit of sood, and have been seen to devour three
times their own size in the captures os a single hour. They seize
their victim with their claws, and tear it to pieces with their teeth.
Dragon flies are distinguished srom all other ssies by the length os
their bodies, the largeness os their eyes, and the beautisul transpa-
rency os their wings, which are sour in number; they are seen in
summer flying with great rapidity near the banks of rivers; they
can continue on the wing for several hours, but are srequently seen to
settle on the leaves and stalks os water plants. The largest sort are
generally found srom two to three inches long ; their tail is sorked,
and the body divided into rings; their eyes are large, horny, and
transparent; within the mouth are to be seen two teeth, covered with
a beautisul lip ; with these this insect bites siercely when it is taken,
but its bite is persectly harmless. No animal is more aptly sitted sor
motion, subsistence, and enjoyment. Their large eyes enable them to
descry their prey while whirling through the air in a thousand disserent
directions; and, expanding their golden wings to the sun, they add
greatly to the beauty os English landscape. But while these beautisul
ssies appear to us so idly and innocently employed, they are in sact
the greatest tyrants of the insect tribe ; and, like the hawk among the
birds, are only hovering up and down to seize their prey. They are
the strongest and most courageous os all winged insects, nor is there
one, however large, that they will not attack and devour; the blue
ssy, the wasp, the bee, and the hornet, are their constant prey ; and
even the butterssy, that spreads so large a wing, is osten caught and
treated without mercy. Their appetite seems to know no bounds;
they are always in pursuit of sood, and have been seen to devour three
times their own size in the captures os a single hour. They seize
their victim with their claws, and tear it to pieces with their teeth.