The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-25
HISTORY OFCAN INSECT.
THE STORY OF ONE OF Ma
TURE's GREAT PRowLERs.
ynciuding . Wonderful Transformation
scens-Fierce Aquatic Liz Of the
Dragon Fiy-Its After Ex-
istence. 49,

istence. a.
4 know nothing more curious or In
teresting In nature than the develop
.ment OF the dragon ay /" the prci.,
lessor said 10 New York Sun man.
ANY one who In tho early summer
or late spring. will look down into
the depths OF some quiet pool or
reedy pond where he can see the bot
tom. will see many curious forms Of
insect life-creeping things dart
ing thinga swimming things One
among the formidable men,
bers OF that subalueous insect
community will particularly at
tract the eye OF the observer.
II Is broad-shouldered creature
an inch In length. and with big. an
gular head. with q big. brilliant bulg-
Ing eye at each upper corner OF the
head. From the two lower corners
project pair OF strong jaws ipcurv-
ing like an elephants tusks The
face 10 covered by singular contriv-
ance which resembles u mask. and
which. however curious 1t may seem.
Is actually part OF the creatures
under lip. the other part being folded
up and put out OF tho way against Its
stomach. Six active legs three on a
side hang from tho shoulders The
body tapers In eight short segments
to point and to the edge OF each
segment Is attached n short sharp
spike. From the tail project in u
cluster five needle pointed spikes
faring about Mt the points, the bases
meeting around an aperture no larger
than the point OF II pin. Tho casual
person might naturally suppose that
with eyes for the upper corners OF its
head. tusk-liko jaws for tho lower
corners an under lip that can be
worn as mask and stomacher at
the same time. any creature would be
fea rfully and wonderfully nude.
Amazing as are the other appurten-
ances OF this unique suba luean prowl-
or. they are but ordinary mechanism
compared with that under lip OF his.
! It is folded up against his stomach
something as the carpenter might fold
his rule. On its extremity is q pair
OF nippera sharp and strong. As the
frog or toad launches Its mucilaginous
tongue and pastes the inconslderate
fly fast to 1t SO does this we'll armed
forager project his jointed under lip
against his prey. fasten the nippcrs
deep upon 1t and pull 1t up and deliver
it to the tusk-like jaws all SO quickly
that the prey Is devoured almost be-
fore you realize what has been going
on. The lip has frequently a two
inch reach.
"As time passes some startling
, changes come over this aggressive
water denizen. His head begins to
lbwell and his back to, hump itself.
?, The more his head swells and the
higher his back is elevated. the harder
: he works for his appetite increases
, with his apparent Importance. BY
, and by. II you watch him closely. you
can't help noticing that he has evil
IDENTIFY struck bad streak OF health.
Q When he exerts himself it is easy tc
: see that he can scarcely catch his
breath. His eyes bulge more thar
: ever and he labors hard for the in
sufficient oxygen he manages to pull
in. You can almost imagine that yoi
hear him wheeze. He knows that hi
!. only hope is change OF climate and a
last he seeks it. He climbs the stall
;. of some convenient rush or reed OF
water plant and leaves his nativ,
J; element for the air. He ascends tn,
= stalk few inches above the surfac,
i of the pond. He seems to have takel
i the third degree OF that tired feeling
J He clutches the reed with his six leg
i rs with the grasp OF death. He rol.
4 his head and sways his body IN
K struggles for breath.
Keep your eyes on him. and pres
u emily you will see him hump himsel
as II for one supreme and final effort
@ and crack! goes something. II eve
|. anyone was ripped up the back. he Is
But he did 1t himself. and by 1t ha
conquered relief. His clothes had be
come too small for him and he
emancipating himself from their CLASP
d There is a glistening sheen at tn
n head and shoulders he now rears alof
and the big eyes are as brilliant @
diamonds. 1t was hard struggle
but he breathes again. His gills hay
" given place to lung power and he wi
is never have to separate oxygen frol
~ water again in order to live He res
awhile. and then you see that there
" still something OF moment on h
" mind. Pretty soon he tugs at himse
er again. and you can scarcely belle,
al your eyes when from that chunk.
be sepmented thing that few minute
before was prowling on the pond DO
nc tom only an inch in length. is d
q yeloped a slender trunk more tina
re. two inches long cleaning in brillial
he hues. 1t resembles nothing SO muC
ID MS a hump backed mosquito wriggle
CIV enlarged many times But tn
mn big bumped back has Its duty to pc
SO form. The great club-like insect st
IN clings to the reed stalk and its mil
al is still agitated by vague unres
., Presently from each side OF Il
VI rounded hump something slow
lily moves outward, until at last 1t h
III unfolded gradually into two pairs
)" long. slender delicate. quiverin
gossamer wings For nome
longer this strangely transform
creature rests upon tho stalk. and tn
on. n T.. t.k