ame "dragon" is now applied to a highly interesting, but
very harmless, group of small flying lizards forming the genus _Draco_,
belonging to the _Agamidae_, a family of Saurian reptiles. About 20
species of "flying dragons" inhabit the various Indo-Malayan countries;
one, _D. dussumieri_, occurs in Madras. They are small creatures,
measuring about 10 in. long, including the tail, which in some cases is
more than half of the entire length. The head is small, and the throat
is provided with three pouches which are spread out when they lie on the
trunks of trees. They are, however, chiefly remarkable for the wing-like
cutaneous processes with which their sides are provided, and which are
extended and supported by greatly elongated ribs. These form a sort of
parachute by which the animals are enabled to glide from branch to
branch of the trees on which they live, but, being altogether
independent of the fore limbs, they cannot be regarded as true wings,
nor do they enable the lizard to fly, but merely to make extensive
leaps. But they have the habit of opening and folding these prettily
coloured organs, when resting upon a branch, which gives them the
appearance of butterflies. When not in use they are folded by the side
after the manner of a fan, and the dragon can then walk or run with
considerable agility. Its food consists of insects.

DRAGONETTI, DOMENICO (1763-1846), Italian double-bass player, was born
in Venice on the 7th of April 1763. Having become famous as a performer
on his instrument, he went to London in 1794, where his playing created
a furore. He was the friend of Haydn and of Beethoven, and a well-known
character in his day. He died in London on the 16th of April 1846.

DRAGON-FLY (Ger. _Wasserjungfer_; Swed. _trollslanda_; Dan. _guldsmed_;
Dutch, _scherpstekendevlieg_; Fr. _demoiselle_), the popular English
name applied to the members of a remarkable group of insects which
formed the genus _Libellula_ of Linnaeus and the ancient authors. In
some parts of the United States they appear to be known as "devil's
darning needles," and in many parts of England are termed
"horse-stingers." It is almost needless to say that (excepting to other
insects upon which they prey) they are perfectly innocuous, though some
of the larger species can inflict a momentarily painful bite with their
powerful jaws. Their true systematic position is still contested and
somewhat uncertain. By most of the older systemat