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LETTER X.

Fiw,,i' FELICIATO CO. STANCE,

Shrubbery

DEAR SISTER,

TilE fourth order, NEUROFTERA, is distinguished by four naked, transparent wings, forming a net-work, with veins or nerves, and a tail without a sting. It will not present us with such a splendid variety and combing. lion of colours beautifully disposed, as that we last examined ; but it is equally interesting, by the diversity of its metamorphoses, habits, and forms; the larva and perfect insect in some of the genera, differing as much from each other as creatures of a dissimilar kind.

The first genus, Libellula, or Dragon-fly, is doubtless familiar to you; though, I dare say, you are not aware that this brilliant and lively insect, which you have so often seen flying with such rapidity in the gardens and meadows, pursuing the smaller insects with the rapacity of a bird of prey, had spent the larger part of

its existence in the water, before it assumed its flying form.

There