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July 4th - 'Chowder' party at ? Mr Banks ? 'Houston' fort - found a Gun from 'Hockley's' fort ? to the Wreck of the Cuba - 5th 'Ellen Franklan' returned from the Major 8th During night Heavy rains & sultry - If this continues it will do the crops no good - For some days past we have had a few Mosquitos - & their persecutor the 'Mosquito Hawk dragon fly S has not ? meeting with this Strange & somewhat beautiful insect in South America - It is about 3 ½ inches long - Thick round head - ? Black Blue deep & light Green - a very large mouth or at least this has to catch its prey with a 2 part of their claws & enable it to kill the captured insect - the body is about 3 times the size of the head - rich brown color & green stripes - into which is inserted 4 long wings of more than 2 inches long of most exquisite workmanship - then follows a long tail 2 ½ inches long - narrow & pipe like - black with green stripes across wings - at the end of the tail there is a protuberance - & Moreover two ? like paddles shooting out -joined by a black web - this I suppose acts like a ? - His ? has 6 long & strong black legs - fly with celerity through the air - & sometimes makes a slight