DRAGONS OF THE AIR. MANY stories weird and wonderful in this region; horse-stingers, as they are called without a shadow of justification for the name, by the children of Britain. have come to us as a legacy of the past. We hear of huge serpents, with tongues of poison, eyes of flame, and wings of prodigious strength. These were the fabled dragons, which, in the form described, existed only in the imaginations of the story tellers. Yet, in modern times, we learn that the most improbable of these strange tales have some foundation in fact. The exaggerations of fiction are the products of abnormal imagination, and there is the less excuse for the extravaganzas, because there actually exist many creatures whose forms and habits are as wonderful as were those of the fiercest dragons of antiquity. Notable characteristics of all the fabled monsters of the dragon tribe were their surprising powers of swift and long continued flight, their fiery fierceness of expression, and the distinctive vigor of their jaws. All these belong to our living dragons too, the dragons of the air. are the dragon flies, as they are These Fig. 1. appropriately called; darning needles, as the children name them, doubtlessly, beCause of their long slender bodies; mosquito hawks, as they are styled by some Fig. 2. All of these titles suggest an aspect more or less unpleasing; and indeed to most people the creature is a horrible creation. Its eyes are brilliant in their sunny depths, and its wings are in tint and texture indescribable, but the mouth parts are actually terrifying to the observer, the jaws are formidable and threatening. Yet this dislike of ours toward the insect may be to a great extent the result of prejudice; undoubtedly if we could examine a dragon fly, dispassionately and without bias, we would find more of beauty than of ugliness about the creature. The French entomologists delight to extol the beauties of the insect, its elegance of shape, its grace of movement, the splendor of its coloring; and the people of France have shown their admiration by naming it "Demoiselle." But let us examine for ourselves some of these ærial wonders,-flying terrors to us, winged beauties to some. Figure 1 represents one of the largest and finest of its kind; the sketch, however, is reduced in size from the original nearly one-half. During the last summer I have taken four specimens of this insect of extraordinary size: each measuring 41⁄2 inches from head to tail, and 6 inches between opposite wing tips. This gorgeous creature is a representative of the tribe of Aeshna. But a poor idea of the insect's beauty is obtainable from a sketch: we must gaze on the real creature. First let us catch it. Our hunting apparatus will consist of an ordinary butterfly net; our field, the region of a pond or some stream with wooded banks, during any of the summer or early autumn months. Here we shall find the dragon at home, freely indulging the murderous propensity of its nature. How it flits through the air, without any apparent purpose in its movements, occasionally poising itself like a hawk above its prey, then darting off with a speed so great than no analysis of its movements is possible We must watch for an opportunity, and as the creature comes within range, make a trous balls shows under the microscope over twelve thousand 'separate and distinct facets, near twenty-five thousand in both. Beside these huge compound eyes, the insect possesses three single eyes, Fig. 4. occilli they are called; these are set between the larger balls. The eye facets are of varying size, and apparently suited for either long or short range of vision. A naturalist friend of mine in a recent letter calls the dragon fly's orb of sight, a "telescopic-microscopic eye.” The wings too present a sheen of wondrous beauty. Could human power fashion any fabric so delicate and beautiful? Now examine the mouth; if organs of this shape and corresponding size belong to the lion or tiger, we would regard those beasts with greater terror than we do now. But let us seek other dragons; there is a variety of them in these parts. Here (figure 2.) is one of the thick bodied kind; this is very common in European lands; it is called Libellula depressa, and in general shape offers a strong contrast to the slender creature before described. Each must examine for himself the specimen; space permits no extended description. Figure 3 is a sketch of the cloud-wing dragon fly; figure 4 illustrates a dragon of the order Diplax; and figure 5 represents the larva of the last named. The larvae of the these insects, the young dragons as we may call them, are DRAGONS OF THE AIR. 19 not less interesting in form and habit reacts upon the vessel and propels it forward with considerable speed. It is confessed that this principle of boat pro than are the flying images themselves. During the early stages the dragon-fly lives in water; its popular name in this condition is water tiger. This appelation, implying fierceness, is well deserved. The creature apparently lives to eat, and its entire life is a career of murder. Let us examine the larva of the large insect, Aeshna grandis (figure 6.) The mouth parts are wonderful. In front of the Fig. 5. jaws is a large horny plate set as a shield; this has been named the mask. The front of this mask is provided with a pair of efficient forceps, which are finely toothed along a portion of the inner edges. With this instrument the insect catches its prey. The sketch (figure 6) represents such a larva with mask extended, in the act of striking. The dragon fly's method of propelling itself through the water may be studied by placing a larva in a vessel of turbid water, and carefully observing its actions. The insect takes water into the body and Fig. 7. pulsion was learned from the habit of the water-tiger. Dragon fly larvæ are voracious feeders; they devour aquatic insects of such kinds as they are able to capture, also fish spawn in great quantity, and even small fish. Fish raisers, who know this, wage fierce war upon the dragon fly and all its kind. It is impracticable to capture large numbers of the larvæ, and efforts are more wisely directed toward killing the mature insect, as soon as possible after its escape from the water, thereby preventing the deposition of eggs. The insect lives several months in the larval state, and then becomes a pupa, with comparatively little change, however. Unlike most insect pupæ, the dragon fly in this stage is still active and hungry. After a life in the water of from twelve to then forcibly expels the same through fifteen months, the insect is prepared to valvular openings at the posterior end, enter upon the last stage of its career. thus securing a direct motion of the body. It usually crawls upon a reed or some This principle has been applied in the such convenient support, and there, holdconstruction of certain forms of steam- ing by its legs, bursts open the pupa boats; the water being admitted into the shell, and emerges as a winged insect. chambers of such vessels, and then ex- Figure 7 illustrates this process in the pelled by the action of powerful pumps. case of Libellula depressa, the mature The backward movement of the water form of which was sketched in figure 2. Fig. 6. Like its near relative, it belongs to the order Neuroptera or nerve-winged insects, so-called on account of the delicate veinings and nerve-like reticulations of the wings. The adult ant-lion is a beautiful insect; (figure 9) though not remarkable for any peculiarity of appearance or habit; its larva however is a noted being. The larva is shown in figure 10; observe its stout body, and strong, formidable jaws. This creature lives in the sand, making for itself a pit, from two to three inches in diameter, and nearly two inches deep. This is symmetrical and funnelshaped; it is shown in figure 11. At the bottom the ant-lion lies concealed, only its jaws project. Any unfortunate ant hastening toward its home, or bent on search for food, on coming to the treacherous pit- Fig. 10. fall is apt to tumble down, there to be seized and devoured by the hidden lion. If the ant gains a foothold on the side of the funnel and starts to climb, the con Fig. 11. , cealed larva throws up a quantity of sand this likely precip itates the ant once more into the pit. There is wonderful diversity in the habits of insects. Could we but fathom their nature to its depths, and learn the purposes of their little lives, we would be wiser than we are. J. E. Talmage. "What is the real good," I ask in musing mood; "Order," said the law court; "Knowledge," said the school; "Truth," said the wise man; "Pleasure," said the fool; "Love," said the maiden; "Beauty," said the page; "Freedom," said the dreamer; "Home," said the sage; Fig. 9. sewing needle, its prevailing tint is an indescribable blue or green. Another insect, certainly a cousin, it not a nearer relative of the dragon fly, is the ant-lion, Myrmeleon formicarius. "Fame," said the soldier; "Equity," the seer. Spake my heart full sadly: "The answer is not here." Then within my bosom Softly this I heard: "Each heart holds the secret; 'Kindness' is the word." STUDIES FROM FROISSART. CHIVALRY. OF ALL the writers of the days of Chivalry, none is more famous than the immortal Sir John Froissart. His journeyings from the courts of princes and feudal lords, throughout England, France and Spain are faithfully described in his renowned Chronicles. His opportunities for studying the celebrated men of his time and the customs and practices of the most interesting period of the Middle Ages were the best, and he employed them wisely, in making a faithful record of all that he saw, and that is illustrative of the heroic days in which he lived, A. D. 1337-1410. That we may thoroughly appreciate and enjoy the extracts and annotations from his writings which it is proposed to give, it may be well, by way of introduction, to devote some space to an explanation of the significance and character of the institution of Chivalry itself. The word Chivalry, derived from the French Chevalier, has the same literal meaning as the English word Cavalry, signifying a body of soldiers serving on horseback; but as applied to the history of the Middle Ages, it has a peculiar meaning, and represents a great military institution, established in nearly all the countries of Europe, having professedly a moral object and governed by fixed laws, rules and customs. The religious character taken up by the profession of arms and blended with it, probably dates from the ninth or tenth century, when the com. mutation of penances prescribed by the canons of the Romish Church for pilgrimages to Rome or Jerusalem, and the widespread belief that the end of the world was rapidly approaching, contributed to such a union, especially among the chivalrous Normans, who were the first to adopt the religious character and to engage in military enterprises, having religious ends or objects in view. During the eleventh century, this disposition spread throughout Europe and the union of religious and military ardor led nearly all professors of Chivalry into many heroic enterprises of a religious character, the chief of which were, undoubtedly, the Crusades. The objects of Chivalry from this period were clearly defined to rescue the oppressed from oppression, to assert the dignity and protect the virtue of women, and to maintain the religious faith against the infidel. An institution with such objects, embracing the noblest born, the bravest and best soldiers of all European countries in its membership could not fail to exercise a remarkable influence on the times in which it flourished. Mr. James in his history of Chivalry says: "There cannot be a doubt that Chivalry, more than any other institution, except religion, aided to work out the civilization of Europe. It first taught devotion and reverence to those weak fair beings, who, but in their beauty and gentleness, have no defence. It first raised love above the passions of the brute, and by dignifying woman, made woman worthy of love. It gave purity to enthusiasm, crushed barbarous selfishness, taught the heart to expand like a flower to the sunshine, beautified glory with generosity, and smoothed even the rugged brow of war.” Chivalry prevailed when feudalism was at its height, but was most prominent in England during the reigns of Richard I., Edward I. and Edward III. The inglorious days of King John, Henry III. and Edward II., offered but little encouragement to an institution in which gallantry and valor had so large a share. Edward III. was a munificent patron of Chivalry, doing everything he could to foster it. He delighted in all manner of military exploits, in the celebration of jousts and tournaments, and lost no opportunity of improving the profession of arms. Chivalry as an organized institution was not confined to any one country, but pervaded Europe. It had its settled rules, orders and customs. The warriors of Chivalrous times underwent a long initiation, having to pass through the several stages of progress, as page, squire and knight, with fidelity to the requirements of each office, which had duties and responsibilities peculiar to |