Catbirds seem to have a special fondness for these helpless insects, and
have been known to eat them before the flabby little wings had grown
stiff.

If the birds do not find the newly emerged dragon fly, it remains
motionless an hour or so, but it does not remain unchanged.

Its wings stretch out and harden.

Bright metallic colors begin to play over them and over its body; and
all at once--off it darts, away and away, glittering in the sunshine, a
swift, beautiful winged creature.

Towards the end of summer you will often see dragon flies darting about
in every direction.

They seem to come in swarms and I think they usually come where there
are ponds or marshes, for in such places there are many gnats and
mosquitoes.

Mollie wants to know why it would not be a good plan for people who live
where there are many mosquitoes to raise dragon flies?

That is a very sensible idea, Mollie, and it has been tried.

Yes, indeed; some men once collected dragon fly larvæ, and took care of
them until they changed into dragon flies.

Then what do you think happened?