Dragon Fly
one of the most noticeable insects. Its wings look like woven threads of irridescent glass; its eyes like beads of gold. Also called mosquito hawk and devil's darning needle,--the former name from its habit of catching mosquitoes on the wing; the latter, from the elongated shape of its body. Two pairs of strong wings stand at right angles to the body and are seldom folded. This insect can fly backward and forward without turning--something no bird can do. Dragon flies are seen wherever there are mosquitoes to catch, but especially over meadows and stagnant water. The female lays her eggs on the surface of the water. The nymph (see article on INSECTS) is a fine swimmer and lives on such insects as it can catch until grown. It then climbs the stem of an aquatic plant, bursts its last nymph skin, and comes out a dragon fly, leaving the empty coat clinging to the plant. The dragon fly is perfectly harmless.
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk; from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Through crofts and pastures wet with dew,
A living flash of light he flew.--Tennyson.