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BRITISH DRAGONFLIES,

0XLFI3 ^^". timn

ft j™

British Dragonflies

Odonata\

By

W. J. LUCAS, B.A., F.E.S,

(Author of " British Haivk Moths" " British
Butterflies" e>7"J.

Illustrated with Coloured Plates and Black-
and-White Drawings.

LONDON :
L. UFCOTT GILL, 170, STRAND, W.C.

1 900.

[.. UPCOTT

LONDON :
LONDON AND COUNTY PRINTING
DRl'RY LANE, W.C.

PREFACE.

Little b\- way of Preface should be required in the
case of a book for which there exists an admitted
demand. That the Dragonflies have been neglected may
be — no doubt is — due to the fact that the information
about them has hitherto been so widely scattered in the
magazines and general entomological literature as to be
far from readily accessible. Consequently, the first
attemjDt to collect the scattered facts, and to make such
additions as were possible, will necessarily leave much
to be done in the future, more especially as regards
the earlier stages of the insects.

An interesting phase of the subject beyond the mere
classification and other book work, is that which deals
with the habits of the insects in their nativ^e haunts,
and this in the past has been scarcely touched upon.
I am onl}- too mindful of the fact that in the present
work the account of the distribution of the various
species is often very scant}-. This arises from two
causes, the paucit}- of field-workers and the apparent
dislike of man}' to record their captures, more par-
ticularh' in the case of the commoner insects.

vi Preface.

As many as possible of the full-grown nymphs have
been described, and one at least of each sub-family
has been figured. There are still, however, several
species almost or quite unknown in the earlier stages.
For the description of six nymphs, and figures of two,
I am indebted to Mr. L. Cabot's papers on the
" Immature State of the Odonata," contained in the
Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, at
Harvard College, U.S.A., and for them I desire to
express my obligation.

So far as the Synonym}' is concerned, reference has
been made to all such authors as are likely to be
consulted by ordinary readers, and, in addition, to such
others as were found responsible for any of the
Synonyms. In connection with the descriptions it may
be well to state that those points which are similar in
both sexes have been omitted in the case of the female.
In all Dragonflies a knowledge of the immature, or
teneral, condition is important, but, unfortunately, details
concerning it are not often obtainable or, in many
instances, easily observed. In this we have another
important branch of the subject which requires more
extended investigation. The reputed species have
designedly been relegated very much to the back-
ground, their claims to being considered British being
so slender. In attempting to popularise the subject
with a view to increasing the number of workers in the
same field, it is hoped that no sacrifice of the purely
scientific side has been made.

I wish to record my indebtedness to the many
entomologists who have so ungrudgingly given me
the benefit of their experience. Notes of occurrences,

Preface. vii

or lists of localities, were supplied by Rev. J. E.
Tarbat, Messrs. C. A. Briggs, J. J. F. X. King, G. T.
Porritt, J. Arkle, \\\ J. Ashdown, H. J. Turner,
A. H. Hamm, R. C. Bradley, VV. H. Harwood,
M. Burr, O. Whittaker, S. A. Blinkarn, A. M. Rodger,
and many other friends and correspondents, as well as
by the magazines. The account of the habits and
distribution of the Scottish Dragonflies are due to a
great extent to the information supplied by Messrs.
King, Briggs, and K. J. Morton ; while most of the
Irish localities were obtained from the excellent paper
of the first on the " Neuropterous h^auna of Ireland,"
published by the Natural History Society of Glasgow.
Photographic assistance in connection with several
figures was rendered by Mr. V . X. Clarke, and in two
cases by Mr. J. J. Collings, while Mr. F. Knock sup-
plied the figure of a hymenopterous parasite in Dragon-
flies' eggs. For the loan of some of the scarcer
British species I am indebted to Messrs. R. McLachlan,
J. J. Y. X. King, and S. L. Mosley. But especially am
I under obligation to Messrs. C. \. Briggs and W. D.
Drury for devoting a large amount of time to examining
the proof-sheets, to Mr. R. McLachlan for valuable
information on the nomenclature, and to Mr. W. F.
Kirby for assisting me with many of the scarcer books
on the subject at the Natural Histor)- Museum,
S. Kensington, especially in connection with the
synonymy. His own work on this subject — " A
Synonymic Catalogue of Neuroptera Odonata " — has
been freely consulted.

Although, compared with the Lcpidoptcra, the
Odonata have received but scanty attention in the

viii Preface.

Magazines, yet many articles and notes from the pens
of the above-named, and other Neuropterists are scat-
tered throughout them, and much information from
them has been embodied in the present work. It is
to be expected that as time goes on such notes will
become more frequent, and it is the Author's hope
that such an increase ma}^ take place as to make a
new edition of the present work a necessity in the not
very distant future.

W. J. LUCAS.

Kingston-on-Thames,
Nove>nbei\ 1899.

LIST OF FIGURES.

I. — Lt's/es spojzsa, connected per colliini

2. — Pvrrhosoina nymphula ovipositing

3. — jrEschna grandis ovipositing

4. — Eggs of \aiious Dragonflies

5. — Ana grits incarnatus, a lumenopteron parasitic in eggs ol

Dragonflies
6. — Newly-liatched nymph of Synipi'tru/ii strio/aliiiii
7. — Nymph of Lihelliila qiiadrhiiaculata, ready to disclose imago
8. — Imago of Lihellula quadrimacidata parti)' out of nymph-case
(). — Imago of Lihellula qiiadri/jiacttlata just emerged from nymph-
case

10. — Imago oi Lihellula quadriiu leulata lately emerged, wings of
full size

II. — Diagram of Anisopterid Dragonfly nymph

12. — Diagram of Zygopterid Dragonfly nymph

13. — Side-view of fore-part of nymph ..

14. — Labial palpi of nymph of Aiiax iiiiperator

15. — Typical masks of the nymphs of the \arious sub-families

10. — Mandibles and maxillce of nymph of Aiia.v iiiiperator

1 7. ^Ventral surface of ninth segment of nymph of male Anas
iiiiperator

18. — Ventral surface of ninth segment of nym]ih of female Aiiax
iiiiperator

19. — Leg-base processes of nymphs of various ^-Eschnine Dragon-
flies

20. — Head of imago of ^ii/ina eyaiiea

21. — Mouth-parts of imago of yEsehna cyanea

22. — Diagram of imago of Dragonfly (lateral view) . .

23. — Diagram of imago of Dragonfly (dorsal view) . .

24. — Diagrams of typical Dragonfly wings

25. — Nymph of Lihellula depressa

20. — Head of nymph of Lihellula quadrimaeulata . .

27. — Anal appendages of Soinatoehlora metalliea (male inragu)

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23

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48

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103
1 1 1

Ii2

List of Figures.

FIG. PAGE

28. — Anal appendages of Somatochlora arctica (male imago) . . 138

29. — Anal appendages of Cordulia anea (male imago) . . . . 142

30. — Nymph of Cordulia cenea . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

31. — Anal appendages of Oxygastra ciirtisii (male imago) . . . . 149

32. — Nymph of Gomphus vulgatissiunis .. .. .. ..154

T^^^. — Nymph of Cordidegaster aiiiiulatus . . . . . . . . 161

34. — Nymph of Aiiax iinperator . . . . . . . . . . 168

35. — Nymph o{ Brachytron prate use .. .. .. .. ..174

36. — Anal angle of hind-wings of ^Kschiia mixta and ^Esi/i/ia

Juiicea (male).. .. .. .. .. .. ..180

37. — Nymph of Calopteryx splendeiis . . . . . . . . . . 224

38. — Anal appendages of Lestes diyas (male imago) . . . . 230

39. — Anal appendages of Lestes sponsa (male imago) . . . . 234

40. — Dorsal spot on first segment of abdomen of Lestes di-yas

and Lestes sponsa . . . . . . . . . . . . 234

41. — Nymph oi Erythromma iiaias .. .. .. .. 246

42. — Antenna of nymph of Erythromma naias . . . . . . 247

43. — J.Iask of Erythromma naias . . . . . . . . . . 248

44. — Legs of nymph of Erythromma 7iaias . . . . . . . . 248

45. — Caudal lamella of nymph of Erythromma naias . . . . 249

46. — Spine on caudal lamella of nymph of Erythromma naias . . 250

47. — Nymph of Pyrrhosoma nympliula . . . . . . . . 257

48. — Anal appendages oi Agrion pidchellum (male imago).. .. 279

49. — Anal appendages of Agrion puella (male imago) . . . . 285

50. — Nymph of Agrion puella . . . . . . . . . . . . 287

5 1- — Anal appendages of Agrion mercuriale (male imago).. .. 293

52. — Anal appendages of Enallagma cyathigerum (male imago) . . 300

53- — Mask of nymph of Enallagma cyathigerum . . . . . . 302

54. — Caudal lamella of nymjih of Enallagma cyathigerum . . . . 303

55. — Diagram of Dragonfly setting-board . . . . . . . . 324

56. — Diagram illustrating method of setting Dragonfly . . . . 326

57- — Dragonfly set and ready for cabinet. . . . . . . . . 327

LIST OF COLOURED PLATES.

I.— LeUCORRHINIA DIBFA

Sympetrum striolatum
]I. — Sympetrum fonscolombii

Sympetrum flaveolum
III. — Sympetrum sanguineum

Sympetrum scoticum
IV. — Libellula depressa. .
V. — Libellula quadrimaculata
VI. — Libellula fulva

Orthetrum c.erulescexs
VII. — Orthetrum cancellatum
viii. — somatochlora metallica
Somatochlora arctica
ix. — cordulia .-enea

Oxygastra curtisii..
X. — GOMPHUS vulgatissimus
XL — Cordulegaster annulatus
XII. — Anax imperator
XIII. — Brachytron pratense

XIV. — ^ESCHNA MIXTA

XV. — ^SCHNA C.ERULEA
XVI. — ^SCHNA JUNCEA

XVII. ^SCHNA CYANEA

XVIII. — yESCHNA GRANDIS

XIX. — ^SCHNA ISOSCELES . .
XX. — CaLOPTERYX VIRGO

Calopteryx splendens
XXI. — Lestes dryas

Lestes sponsa . .

XXII. — PLATYCNEMIS PENiMPES

Erythromma NAIAS . .
XXIII. — Pyrrhosoma nvmphula
Pyrrhosoma tenellum
xxiv. — ischnura pumilio

IschnuRa elegans . .
XXV. — Agrion pulchellum..
XXVI. — Agrion puella
XXVII. — Agrton mercuriale

EXALLAGArA CYATHIGERU.M . .

Note. — In everv case the Male is on the left hand., the Female
right.

FACING
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290

on the

CONTENTS.

Chap.

I. — [M'RODUCnON

II. — Life Hi.storv
III. — Classification ..
I\'.— Thf Nymph
V. — I'HE Imago
VI. — Genera and Species.

1. Lc'iiiorr/iiiiia dubi'i

2. Syniipctriini sti iolatiini ..

3. Sympetriuii foiiscolombii

4. Sympetriini fliweolum . .
^. Syuipetritm ^aiif^iiincuin

6. Sympi'truin seofnum

7. Libclliila dtpressa

8. Libelhila qitadriuiacitlata

9. Libelhila fulva . .

10. OrthctriDit cixrulescens . .

11. Orthetrum canccllntum

12. So/natochlora uiitallica

13. Soiiiatochlora airtica

14. Cordulia ceiiea . .

15. Oxygaxtra ciirtisii

16. Gomplius viilgaiissimiis

17. Corduligaster aiiiiiilahis

18. A flax impenitor . .

19. Brachytron prate use

20. yEschna tnixta . .

21. ^schna ccerulea

22. ^Eschiia /u/icea . .

23. ^-Kschiia cyanea . .

24. ^Eschna grand is

45

63
69

77
<Sl

«7
93
100
107
119
122
126
130
137
140

147
151
•57
I '^3
170

177
183
189
190
20^

Contents.

Genera and Species — continued.

25. y^Eschna isosceles

26. Calopteryx z'irgo

27. Caloptery.x splendens

28. Lestes diyas

29. Lestes sponsa

30. Platycneniis pennipes

31. Erythromnia naias

32. Pyrrhosoma nyniphida .

33. Pyrrhosoma tenclluni

34. Ischnura piimilio

35. Ischnura elegans

36. Agrioii pidchelluni

37. Agrion puella

38. Agrion mercuriale

39. Enallagnia cyathigeriim
VII. — Reputed Species

VIII. — Breeding the Ny.mph..
IX. — Preparing for the Cabinet
Addenda et Corrigenda
List of Works Referred

Titles
Index

CoNTl

209

213
220
228
232
238
244
252
262
266
271
277
2S2
290
297
308
313
319
330

334
337

BRITISH DRAGONFLIES.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION.

Included within the somewhat heterogeneous assem-
blage of insects usuall)' brought together under the
natural order Nairoptcra are several well-defined
groups, which ought perhaps to be looked upon as of
ordinate rank in themselves. One such group is that
known scientifically as the Odoiiata^ so named, no doubt,
by Fabriciust on account of the toothed mandibles ot
the insects comprising it.

Amongst country people and others, who have be-
stowed on these insects but a passing attention, names
indicative of dislike or fear seem always to have been
given as the result of their cursory notice. " Dragonflies,"
in consequence of their brilliant, scaly armour ; " Devil's
Darning Needles," in allusion to their long, pointed body;

* Greek, o^ovs, oSovros = a tooth ; though, seeing that ihe stem of the
word is dSovr, one would have expected Odoutata.
t Fabr., Ent. Syst. ii., p. vi., 373, 1793.

British Dragouflics.

"Horse-stingers," owing to the custom of the rustic mind
to jump at conclusions, and think ill of the little-known
■ — -such are the opprobrious titles that in common parlance
have been bestowed upon some of the most beautiful,
and at the same time least understood, of British insects/'"

" Dragons," indeed, are the larger kinds to the
multitude of smaller insects, whose life is not seldom
cut short to provide them a meal. The second name
is clearly but an indication of dislike ; and to anyone
acquainted with the habits of Dragonflies, a reason
need scarcely be given for the bestowal of the third
name, for they have a way, when handled, of turning
the tip of their abdomen under them in a very threatening
manner. As, however, no vestige of a sting exists, they
are, of course, perfectly harmless in that respect, though
they often make attempts, more or less unsuccessful, to
bite the hand that holds them. Still, they ma}- be
handled without fear, as their jaws are but little
adapted for attacking an extended surface.

Neglected though this group of insects has always
been by the majority of entomologists, yet it is really
an extremely interesting one, not only because the
individuals comprising it are often large and alwa}'s
beautiful, but also because in their life-histories there is
many a gap which it should be the pleasing dut}- of
the entomologist to fill up. That he will find more
difficulties in his work than those which confront the
butterfly- and moth-collector, cannot be denied ; as,
however, difficulties only spur on the genuine naturalist
to overcome them, we shall find here but another

* Calvert says that in Philadelphia they are also popularly called Snake-
doctors and Mosquito Hawks. (Trans. Am. Ent. Soc. xx., 1893.)

Introduction.

ai-giiment in fa\-our of exploring;' this neglected little
corner of the Animal Kingdom.

Some of the difficulties to be encountered by the
naturalist who makes Dragonflies his study, are the
extremely obscure manner in which their early stages
are passed (the n}'mphs, as the immature form is called,
being aquatic), the inconveniences that attend the search
for them in those stages, and the breeding and identifi-
cation of them after they have been found. In making
a collection of the perfect insects a further difficulty
arises — in connection with their colour-preservation — and,
it must be confessed that, however great the care em-
ployed, some dissatisfaction is bound to be felt, when,
with the life, departs the greater portion of the splendour
which places the majority of these insects among the
most beautiful of living objects to be found in Nature.

Hunting for the perfect insect has much to recommend
it to every true lover of the countr^^ for, since all
Dragonflies (except one or two large ones, which some-
times hawk about in the twilight) move only as a rule
in fine sunny weather, their capture will always be
associated with those bright summer scenes which seem
to take so strong a hold upon the memory. The
recollection is of beds of tall reeds and stalwart bul-
rushes fringing the still, sleeping waters of some boggy
lake or pool on a hot summer's day, when the trees
that grow around are repeated upside down in the
glassy surface of the water, and the presence of the
azure-tinted Dragonfly, Aua.x iiiipcratoi\ may be traced
by his reflection as he hovers o'er the pool, or swings
backwards and forwards along the edges of the reed-
beds, for a long time tantalising the patient collector

B 2

British Dragoiijiics.

with a distant sight only of his beauty ; till, growing
less cautious, he moves a little out of his usual track,
approaches too near his watchful foe, and exchanges his
freedom in the bright sunshine for the narrow limits of
the collector's net.

Or, maybe, a picture arises of some forest stream
o'erhung \\\\\\ the luxuriant foliage of ash and alder,
where the current, rippling over its stony bed, sprinkles
the bright green ferns and other plants that clothe its
shady margins — even such a stream as the well-known
L}'mington River, where it wanders through some of the
wildest and most beautiful parts of the New Forest,
often in its meanderings almost lost amongst the thick
and tangled vegetation that is found along its course.
Such is the home of the gorgeous blue-winged " Demoi-
selle," or " King George " ; "^ without doubt the most
resplendent of our Dragonflics, if not of all British
insects. Handsome enough it looks in the cabinet ; but
to be seen at its best it must be watched as it flutters
along the streams in the patches of sunlight that filter
through the foliage, and in which its colours vie with
those of the kingfisher, whose lovely haunts it shares.

Or yet another scene of an entirely different nature
arises in the mind — lengths of flowery ditches, or
peaceful slumbering streams, stretching through world-
old meaclowlands — such streams as are Thames'
tributaries in some of the more fertile parts of man}'-
featured Surrey. Here in June, while summer is young
and vegetation fresh and green, when the shallow
margins of the streams are bands of gorgeous blossoms,
and the banks are knee-deep in luxuriant grass and

* Caloptcrvx ^'irsio.

Introduction. 5

flowers, the smaller Dragonflies, dressed in hues of
vivid blue or crimson, sometimes rise in countless
swarms before the footsteps of the astonished invader
of their realms.

To some the search for Dragonflies may appeal for
another reason. Even more than is the case with
other insects, there is a tantalising uncertaint}- as to
what ma}' be the result of a da}''s collecting. Aiinx
impcratoi\ Ortlictrniii caiiccllatniii, or several other
desiderata may be on the wing and perfectly well in
evidence, but the end of the day may find the collecting-
boxes quite innocent of specimens. This uncertaintx' it
is which gi\es the zest to fishing, hunting, and similar
sports, and which adds a perfecth' legitimate interest
to the collection of all kinds of natural objects, where
the specimens are obtained by the collector's own
personal exertions in the field, and not b\' the length
of his purse.

Of Dragonflies — the British examples at an}' rate — •
it may pretty safeh' be affirmed that the\' are enemies
to no one, notwithstanding the panic that the uninvited
presence of a large specimen sometimes creates. On the
contrar)', they must be looked upon as being eminently
useful from the immense numbers of other insects they
destroy, their food being entirely of an animal nature in
all stages of their existence ; and the}- are the more
useful in that the\' will not touch an\-thing that is
not actuall}- living and mo\-ing. The fisherman may
possibh' object to so general a statement with regard
to their innocence, and perhaps it is true that certain
nx'mphs ma}- feed on the ver}- }'oung fr}- of fish if they
can catch them, though there is little doubt that on

British Dragoufiics.

occasion nymphs may become prey for fishes in their
turn. Certainly Dragonflies themselves cannot be put to
any direct use, except to give pleasure to all who see
them w^ith an unprejucHcecl eye, whether at large or in
the collector's cabinet, although we are told that in
Lombock certain large species are caught by means of
limed twigs, and used as food.^

What natural enemies the Dragonflies have in this
country will usually be found amongst the birds, and
their number is no doubt small ;t nor, except when they
are newly on the wing and their bodies are soft, do they
seem to offer many temptations even to the most hungry
of foes ; whilst the larger species might easily terrify
any but the boldest. Gilbert White, the naturalist of
Selborne, says,;]: however, that he more than once saw
cuckoos catching them, sometimes on the wing, sometimes
when the Dragonflies were settled on the weeds. In one
instance he notes that the insects had but just emerged
from the n)'mph-case. A German writer, Bechstein,
confirms this statement. § Mr. T. H. Briggs relates
that he once saw a fight between a large Dragonfly and
a sparrow in a London street, but that the insect came
off victorious. It also seems to be the case that the
smaller kinds of Dragonflies are at times devoured by
hobbies, kestrels, and swallows. 1| That they some-

* W. R. Wallace, "Malay Archipelago,"' p. 154, 1877.

t By some, however, it is thought that birds cause considerable havoc
amongst Dragonflies. McLachlan (E. M. M., vol. ix., p. 48) mentions
that a bird, AJej-ope persictis, lines its nest with the remains of Dragon-
flies, on which insects it apparently feeds.

J " Natural History of Selborne," Letters vii. and xxx. to Hon. Daines
Barrington.

§ " Gemeinnutzige Naturgeschichte Deutsclilands " (1805).

II E. M. M., 1871, p. 190; id. 1872, p. 227.

Introduction. 7

times eat one another cannot be denied, for the writer
has more than once caught a large Dragonfly in
possession of one of its smaller brethren, and on one
occasion watched — indeed, was the cause of — a striking
piece of cannibalism.'^ There fell to the net a male
Anax iuiperator, which had just before captured a Syni-
petruni scoticiini — the small black Dragonfly. This it
almost killed, but released in the net. While iinpcrator
was held b}' the wings, another scoticuni was ofiered,
which it seized with its legs, but after biting let fall
also. On scoticHin being offered a second time howex'er,
all except the wings and part of the abdomen was
quickly devoured with e\ident pleasure. It should be
mentioned that scoticuni, being but just on the wing, was
soft and tender. On another occasion a Lihcllula
quadriniaculata was secured eating an example of the
crimson Dragonfl\-, PyrrJunonia nynip/iula\\ and Mr.
\V. J. Ashdown mentions the fact of his having taken
in the New Forest a specimen of Gonphus vulgatissinius
also making a meal off an individual of the same small
species. Some large insects, probably a species of Asilus,
have been noticed preying on Dragonflies in California.:]:
Coming to smaller foes, acari, or tiny red spider-
mites, are sometimes found as external parasites, and
are occasionally so closely packed on parts of the wings
as to mark them with red. The genus Synipetruni seems
to be most commonly attacked, and in S. nicridionalc
they are said to be almost looked upon as a specific
character.§ What nutriment they can extract from a

* Entom., i«97, p. 281. t Entom., 1897, p. t,^.

\ R. McLachlan, Entom., 1873, p. 549.

§ R. McLachlan, E. M. AI., 1864, p. 100; id. 1884, p. 252. C. A.

Briggs, iJ. 1892, p. 194.

8 British Drai^w/ flics

Dragonfly's wing it is difficult to say ! A similar
parasite has been noticed by the author on the thorax
of PyrrJiosoma iijn/iphiila,^ and on that of Isclinnra
elcgans.

The Sundew (Droscra), into whose economy Darwin
has entered so fully in his " Insectivorous Plants, "t
sets a trap of gum-tipped glands, and sometimes secures
such large game as the small blue Dragonflies by
entangling their wings amongst its tentacles. xA. single
plant of Droscra rotiDidifoUa, growing by the side of
a pond in the fir-woods near Esher, was once found
having caught no less than four specimens — three living
males of Enallagiua cyatJiigcnim and one dead female,
no doubt of the same species. J

Generally speaking, Dragonflies must be sought for
near water, especially lakes, ponds, slow streams, and
ditches, not only because their eggs are deposited and
their young live in that element, but also because in
its vicinity insect-life — and therefore food — is usually
more abundant than elsewhere. Nevertheless they are
often found a considerable distance from water, and in
some cases, soon after emergence and before their
colours are mature, seem to prefer to keep awa}' from
its immediate neighbourhood.

Very limited powers of flight are possessed b\' the
smaller Dragonflies, and in consequence the}' do not
wander far from home ; and even the larger ones,
whose flight is as powerful as that of the others is
weak, usually confine their journcyings to a very
restricted range. But on occasion a few species for

* Entom., 1897, p. 283. t I'ide 2ik1 edition, ch.i]). i., p. 2.

X Kiitoiii., 189O, pp. 99, 257.

Introduction.

some unknown reason (perhaps scarcity of food or
dearth of water) develop a migratory instinct, and
wander in countless swarms for long distances : on
several occasions they have been noticed far out to sea.
Among British Dragonflies, Libclluhx qiiadriinaciilata
(the Four-spotted), has this trait ver}- well developed,
and many flights have been noticed.

Geologists tell us that the Dragonflies are a very
ancient group of insects, and, possibly because their
outer covering is somewhat hard, their remains are
fairly numerous. In fact, representatives of the N^ciiro-
ptera are amongst the oldest of fossil insects yet known.
The earliest traces of insects were discovered near St.
John's, in New Brunswick, in the upper portion of the
Old Red Sandstone system, and consisted of a few
broken wings of Ncnroptcra allied to the Ephcnicridtc, but
perhaps having some features in common with the
Orthoptcray' The earliest fossil remains that can
with certaint}- be referred to the Dragonflies, ha\e been
found in the Lower Lias of the Jurassic s}'stem, this
formation in the West of England having provided a
great number of specimens. The Stonesfield Slate of
the Lower Oolite and the Purbeck beds of the Upper
ha\'e also been fertile sources of supph' in England.
But perhaps the formation best known for supplying
fossil Dragonflies in large numbers is the Solenhofen
Slate of Bavaria. This formation supplied the fine
specimen of Cordiilcgastcr dresdciisis, Charp. {^Eschua
charpcntieri, Hagen), which Charpentier has depicted
in his well-known text-book.t The Tertiary series

* "Geological Antiquity of Insects," by H. Goss, pp. 6, 12, &c.

f " Libellulinse EuropDece," by T. de Charpentier, pi. 48, tig. i, 1840.

lO Britisli Dragonflics.

also afford numerous specimens of fossil Odonnta, but
the Post-Tertiary, although gradually gliding into recent
formations, are singularly wanting in Neuropterous
remains. Kirby enumerates 103 species of fossil
Odonata!^

Of recent Dragonflies, Linnaeus knew only fifty-six
species in the middle of last centur}'. Baron de Sel}'s
Longchamps gave 1344 as the total in 1871. In 1890
Kirby could bring the list up to 1800, and thought that
the number might be quadrupled if only the group were
more thoroughly worked. The total for Europe is
Just over a hundred, while in Britain there are
forty, one of which, however, Sympctrum fonscolombii,
and probably another, 6". flaveoluin, are only occasional
visitors, whilst a third, S. vulgcxtum, if present at all, can
with difficulty be distinguished from ^\ striolatuiu. Of
the remaining thirty-seven, one or two are so rare that
a locality can scarcely be assigned for them, but the
majority of the rest one might fairly expect to catch
in two or three seasons by collecting in various districts.
In addition to the forty referred to, there are seven
species that are recorded as having occurred a long
time since, usualh' as single specimens, and in one case
at least with \ery doubtful authenticit}\ Not one of
these can be looked upon now, at any rate, as British
species. Whether others remain to be discovered in the
British Isles cannot, of course, be said ; but the likelihood
does not seem great, and it must be confessed that in
all probability future changes in the total number of
species of British Dragonfiies must be looked for in
the way of decrease only.

* " Synonymic Cataloj^ue of Ncuioptera Odonata," by W. F. Kirby, 1890.

CHAPTER II.

LIFE-HISTORY.

Watch the surface of a boggy pool on a bright
summer or autumn da}-, and it will be strange if females
of Syuipetruiii striolatuiii are not to be seen busih-
engaged in the act of ovipositing. This the}' accomplish
by repeatecll}' dipping the extremity of their abdomen
in the water, and on each occasion dropping one or
more eggs. The male of this species usually accom-
panies the female, and, by clasping her at the neck
with the anal appendages at the extremity of his bod}-,
perhaps assists in keeping her poised above the water.
This attachment of the male to the female, /^^^r colliiiii, as
it is called (Fig. ij, is reall}- the first step in striking up an
amator}- acquaintance, but is not immediately concerned
in the fertilisation of the ova, which is accomplished in
a somewhat peculiar manner. The ninth segment of the
abdomen of the male bears on the ventral surface the
organs of secretion of the fertilising fluid, which b}'
cur\ing his abdomen under he removes to a receptacle
in the second segment. While the female is held per coll.
b}- the male she bends her abdomen round in such a
wa}' that the ninth segment is applied to the second

12 British Dragtniflics.

of the male, and in this way the eggs are fertiHsed.
No doubt fresh batches of eggs need to be separately
fertilised, necessitating the continued attendance of the
male upon the female ; but perhaps the proceeding may
also be looked upon as an act of fidelity, akin to that
of the earwig for her eggs, and, according to De Geer,

Fig. I. — Lestes sponsa, Male and Female connected

PER COLLU.M.

for her young — a trait not often exhibited thus low in
the Animal Kingdom.

But the males of all species are not so attentive as
those of kS". striolatnut, nor are the eggs in all cases
so carelessly laid. Instances have been noted — e.g., hy
Messrs. B. J. Clarke, J. Jenner Weir, and G. W. Dunn —
that when members of the genus Agrioii are ovipositing.

Lifc-Histoiy.

13

the male, which has been previously flying with the
female, sets her free on a blade of grass or a rush, and
that she then goes down below the water, and deposits
her eggs. The author has obser\ed the same proceeding
in the case of Enallagiiux cyatliigcnini. A similar habit
was noticed by V^on Siebold in the case of the genus
Lestes.* Mr. McLachlan found in Savoy (1884) Agrion

Fig.

-PYRRHOSOiLA NYilPHULA OVIPOSITING WITHIN A LeAF OF
POTAilOGETON.

mcrcuriale with its abdomen encrusted with mud
through ovipositing where water was almost dried up,
and in 1895 the same observer discovered Pyrrhosonia
nyniphnla laying its eggs in a nearly dry ditch in the
New Forest. t

E. ]M. ;M., 1873, p. 163. " Neuroptera austriaca," by Braiier unci Low,

p. xiv.
tE. AI. M., 1805, p. 180.

14 Britisli Dragoufiics.

On July 24, 1898, a pair of PyrrJiosoma nymphula
were noticed near Eshcr, in Surrey, flying connected
per coll. Presently the female settled on a floating leaf
of Potanwgcton, while the male poised itself on the
wing with its body vertical. The female was then
noticed to be moving the extremity of her abdomen
along the upper surface of the leaf. This was picked,

Fig. 3. — iEscHNA guandis Ovipositing.

and after careful search, when somewhat withered, the
eggs were found below the upper cuticle (Fig. 2).
In the New Forest, on August 4, 1898, a pair of
Platycncinis pciinipcs, united per coll., were seen resting
on a yellow water-lily blossom, and the female was
moving the anal extremity of her abdomen along the

Life- History. 1 5

surface of the stem, no doubt in this case also inserting
eggs in it, but they could not be discovered.

On September 11, 1898, ALscJina grcxndis was noticed
ovipositing in shallow water, close to the edge of one
of the large ponds in Richmond Park. This it did by
settling on a floating weed, or one that was but little
exposed, and then bending the abdomen so as to dip
its extremity into the water. This appeared to be
done deliberately, as if the eggs were being carefully
placed (Fig. 3).

On more than one occasion, when ^LLscliua juncca
was seen busily engaged in oviposition, it seemed
as if she rested on the surface of the water, or perhaps
rather on a weed that was just submerged, while laying
her eggs; but whether she dropped them at random, or
deposited them in a selected position, was not clear.
There is, however, no reason to doubt that in common
with other Dragonflies which possess ovipositors, this
one places them within the surface of a plant.* It
seems to be the habit, on the other hand, of the
Libellulidce, which possess no ovipositor, to drop the
eggs into the water in a very unstudied manner.f

If the eggs are examined under a microscope of
sufficientl}' high power it will be at once noticed (see
Fig. 4J that there are two kinds — the more or less
elliptical, and the elongated ; and it is perhaps more
than a coincidence that the broad-bodied Dragonflies
and their relatives without ovipositors (some of whose
bodies, however, are not broad) have elliptical eggs,
while the essentially long-bodied Dragonflies — the
yEscJmiucc and the Agrioiiida — possessing ovipositors —

* Entom., 1894, p. 296; 1897, p. 34. f Entom., 1897, p. 280.

i6

British Dragonflics

have long eggs. Most of the eggs represented in the
figure possess a Httle stalk, or pedicel, of attachment ;
but as nearly all the drawings were made from eggs

-^

/ \

Fig. 4. — Eggs of Various Species of Dragonfliks.

r. ^SCHNA JUNCEA (X 24).

3. LiBELLULA DEPRESSA (X 30).

5. Anax IMPERATOR (X 24).

7. Pyrrhosoma tenellum (x 25)

g. Sympetrum scoticum (x 30).

2. Sympetrum striolatum (x 48).

4. LiBEl.LULA QUADRIMACULATA(X 30).

6. Enallagma cyathigerum (x 25).
8. /Eschna mixta (x 24).
10. Orthetrum cierulescens (X 30).

II. Cordulegastkr annui.atus (x 24).

Life- History.

17

extracted from the dead bodies of the females, this
pedicel may not always belong to the egg proper,
especiall}- as that of ^\ striolatuin (No. 2), which was
laid naturalh', has not got it. The eggs themselves are
smooth and nearh' colourless, but have just a \'ellow
tint. The contents are granular, and, no doubt, consist
to a great extent of protoplasm, with possibly some
oil}' globules. At an\- rate, their appearance gives
one that impression. Though so small fand the largest,
that of ^{nax iiiipcratoi\ of which No. 5 (Fig. 4) is an
illustration, is but i^mm.* in length), Dragonflies' e<7cs
have parasites we are told. A tiny h}-menopterous insect,
of the family JMyniaridcc, passes its early stages in them.
Mr. F. Fnock, who makes a study of these minute

creatures, says that he
has bred from Dragonflies'
eggs many specimens, both
male and female, of Ana-
griis iitcaiiiatits, one of
these minute Mymarids
less than 4-iTim. in length.
These Fairy-flies, as they
are called in the \ulgar
tongue, when they leave
the Dragonfly's eggs as
perfect insects, use their
curious wings to swim to
the surface of the water, where, owing to their micro-
scopic size, it is difficult to find them (Fig. 5).

Fk;. 5. — Anagkis inxarxatu:

(After F. Knock.)

Parasitic in Eggs of Dragonfly,

(Greatly magnified.)

* It has seemed well in most cases to make the millimetre the unit of
length, not only because its value is u^Jer^tood in all civilised countries,
but because many measurements we have to make are so small that an
inch becomes unwieldy. For practical purposes 25mm.= iin.

C

British Dragoiijlics.

To obtain a general idea of the early life of a nymph,
it will be convenient to take a particular insect. If
attention is again directed to the Qg^g of Sympctniiii
striolatuni (Fig. 4), it will be seen that the nymph is
nearly formed, and almost ready to hatch out. The
batch of eggs to which this belonged was laid about Sep-
tember 15, 1896. On October 18, they were examined,

^^^^_

Fig. 6. — Newly-hatched NyjMph oe Svmpetrum striolatum.

(X about 45 diameters.)

after having been unnoticed for two or three da}-s, and
a considerable number had hatched. The little nx'mphs,
which were about imm. long, resembled tin\' spiders
swimming about in the water (Fig. 6). They were
extremely transparent, the head, thorax, and abdomen
being slightly tinged with }'ellowish-green, the rest

L ife-History. 1 9

of the animal bciiiL^ colourless. The legs were very
long. As they managed to live practicalU' without
food for two or three weeks, they must be rather hardy.
About December 15, they were placed in a small fish-
globe, in which weeds were growing, and amongst which
they no doubt found some food. On March 21, 1897
{i.e., about five months after the\- were hatched), a few
were still living, and the largest was about four or five
millimetres in length. It was then \'ery difficult to find
them, as the}- closely resembled the mud at the bottom
of the fish-globe in which the\- lived. On October i,

1897 (almost a }-ear after the}^ were born), there was
but one survivor, though it is more than probable that a
good number of its brethren had entered into its com-
position. In length it was now about i6mm. The wing-
cases appeared full-grown, and no doubt the summer of

1898 would ha\e witnessed the consummation of its
existence, had it not somewhat unaccountabi}- dis-
appeared towards the end of the year.

How long this imperfect condition (jf Dragonfl)- exist-
ence lasts is extremely doubtful. It used to be thought
that some of the larger species required three years to
reach the final stage. The}' may take as long when the
food-supply is scant}% but in all probability it will be
found that the majority complete the cycle of existence
within the year, even if one or two of the small species,
e.g., Eiiallagma cyathigennii and Isehmira elegans ha\'e not
a second emergence about September. \\. any rate, in that
month the}' are often found — the females especiall}- — with
what appears to be the immature colouring, although, of
course, it does not follow that they are the offspring
of Dragonflies that emerged earlier in the same season.

C 2

20 Britisli Dragoiiflics.

But this portion of the subject is involved in much
doubt, and, hke the identification of many of the n}'mphs,
requires close observation and careful, steady work.

As with the larva; of Lcpidoptci-a, changes of skin
(ecd)'ses) occur, and after one of these we find that the
nymph, which in Fig. 6 is seen to be quite destitute of
wings, has developed on the thorax little processes,
which, as successive changes of skin take place,
gradually assume the appearance of wings ; but even
during the last n)-mph stage the}- are very small indeed
compared with their size in the perfect insect. On
account of the wings appearing in this way, and the
further fact that the n}'mph is active and feeds in all
stages, the imperfect Dragonfly gradually approaches in
appearance the imago ; and so those startling meta-
morphoses, with which we are so familiar in butterflies
and moths, are absent to a great extent in these insects.
How often ecdyses occur it is difficult to say, but
probabh' a considerable number of times. The period
between the last two corresponds perhaps most nearl}-
to the pupal stage of Lcpidoptcrcx, Co/eoptcra, &c., the
period before — that of growth — to the larval condition of
those insects.

When a nymph is full grown, and the appearance of
the perfect Dragonflv' is near at hand, it apj^ears to
cease feeding and to take little interest in life. Perhaps
the former is impossible, for great changes must be
taking place inside the skin. Some impulse now causes
it to .seek the u[)per air, and the hitherto aquatic and
ugly, sombre-tinted nymjih ascends the stem of a reed
or rush, or crawls up an\'thing, in fact, wliich will enable
it to leave its water}- home. Up this reed, or |)Ossibl\-

Life- History.

21

some neighbouriny; wall or fence* it climbs till it is well
out of the water, and also clear of an\' objects that might
touch and injure it during the coming change. Here it
remains for a while, perhaps for an hour or two, clinging.

head upwards, to the support it has chosen 'F;

■)•

At this period of its life the thoracic spiracles are often
conspicuous, and no doubt it breathes atmospheric air
through them, as jjerhaps it did just before lea\ing the

I'lG. 7. — Ny.^u^h of Likel-

H'l.A orADRIMACri-ATA,

ready to disclos1-:
Imago.

Fr;. 8. — I.MAGO OE LnjEI.ULA
orAUKIMAClLATA I'AKTLV

orx OK THE Nymph-case, axd
i\ "Resting" Position.

water, for when the great change is near it likes to keep
the fore-part of its body out of the water.

* In 1897, near Byfleet, several empty nymph-cases of Caloptcryx spleiidens
were found on walls, to get to which the nymphs must have crossed the canal
path ; and Mr. Bell-]Marley found an emjity case of an ^Eschna (jnolialjly
cvaiiea) on a high railing, to reach which the insect must have crawled ten
yards or more. The absence of reeds was no doubt the cause of this long
journey. Mr. Wattson also noticed the same thing in Richmond Park.
In confinement nymphs often become restless, and get out of the vessels
in which they are placed, especially when they are nearly full grown.

British D i v igo )i flics .

When the skin is dry, it cracks across the head,
longitudinally along the dorsal surface of the thorax,
and transversel)' just in front of the wings, and the
thorax and head of the imago emerge. The wings
follow, and the legs are graduall}^ drawn out ; then the
fore-part of the body usually falls backwards,'^ as if the
insect was exhausted and could not complete its
emergence (Fig. <S ). In this position of rest, from
which it seems likely to fall into the water at any
moment, it remains for some time — say a quarter
of an hour to an hour, according to the size of the
insect, and perhaps other circumstances. After gather-
ing strength, it may be from this rest, and the legs
possibK' haxing hardened, with a sudden effort it curves
its bod}' forward and up to the now empt}' thorax
of the nymph-case, draws out the end of its abdomen,
and is thus seen hanging to the empty case, which still
retains its hold upon the rush, or whatever the support
may be, and in this wa\', to adapt the words of
Tenn}'son, the insect appears to

" . . rise on stepping-stones
Of its dead self to higher things." f

The newl)--disclosed imago is of a nearl}- luiiform
ding}-, brownish-yellow tinge, retains much the shape
of the nymph, and possesses the tiniest of opaque
wings (Fig. 9). But let him who has watched
thus far watch still more closel}' now ! The higher
animals develop gradually and continuously, but insects

* In the case, however, of an emergence of Pyrrhosoiua iivmphiila, closely
watched throughout, the miago did not fall back at all, but kept the fore-
]iart of its body erect during the resting period. An Aiirion piiella caught
in the act of emerging was at the time also resting with its body erect.

t " In JNIemoriam," i.

Life-History.

at certain periods in their existence do so suddenl)-
and rapidl}', and the present is one of the most
striking" instances of it. The wings are seen to
be expanding at the base, and this expansion slowl}'
proceeds till after half an hour or so it has reached the
tip and the wings are of their full size, though still
\-ello\v and opaque. This process is accompanied by

Fig. 9. — iMACiO OF LniEI.LlLA qiad-
RIMACri.ATA, jrST EMERGED AND
HANGING TO THE EMPTY NVMPH-

CASE. Wings bit little De-
veloped.

Fig. 10. — Imago of Likel-

LULA yUAlJRIMACULATA,

lately Emerged. Wings
full-groavn, but not yet
Expanded.

twitchings of the abdomen from front to back, while in
some cases it is at intervals bent forward at the tip and
then contracted lengthwise, as if air was being forced
from it into the wings, which perhaps is the case, for
the\' consist of two la}'ers which seem to be slightly
separated during the progress of the metamorphosis.

24 British Dragoiiflics.

The wings are at this stage extremely deHcate, and if
scratched green blood flows from them freely. While they
are thus tender, the insect curves the end of its abdo-
men backwards to prevent any foreign substance from
injuring them. Later on, when the two layers have be-
come cemented together, the wings may be damaged to
any extent apparently without causing trouble to their
owner, except that its power of flight is in consequence
to some extent impaired. The elongation of the
abdomen takes place chiefly after the wings are fully
expanded (Fig. lo).

When all parts have attained their full size a further
rest occurs, the wings in all cases observed being kept
adpressed to one another, as in the usual resting
position of the Zygopterids : an Anisopterid, however,
expands its wings after a time, when the cloudiness has
passed away from them. If emergence takes place in
the morning, as it often does, the new-born Dragonfly,
as soon as the sun is well up in the sky, tempts the air
with weak and feeble flight, its wings glistening with a
glassy sheen and its bod}' .wanting the gorgeous colours
which make a Dragonfly what it is. This period, during
which the imiago is said to be iiinnatiirc, is of var}'ing
duration. It always lasts at least a day or two, and in
some species, especially amongst the Libclliiliiuc, a much
longer period elapses before the perfect insect apjjcars in
its fullest splendour, till which time there is often a dis-
position to move away from the presence of water. But
at length the sheen disappears from the wings,^ the full

* Mr. C. A. Briggs has a specimen of Ortheiriim cancellatum, fioin
Wisley, in which the principal nervures of one foie-wiiig are broken.
This wing retains the glassy immature condition. Tiie other three wings

Life- History. 25

colouring is assumed, and the Dragonfly is read}- to
wander to and fro abo\c the streams and ponds, there
to hawk for its prey and to seek for, or be sought by,
its mate, reminding us of Tenn\-son's exquisite hnes in
the " Two Voices " :

"To-day I saw the Dragonfly
Come from the wells where he did lie.

" An inner impnlse rent the veil
Of his old husk ; from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.

"He dried his wings: like yauze they grew;
Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew."

Soon the serious business of life — that of reproducing
the species — is entered upon, and usualh' in about three
months — sometimes less, sometimes a little more — the
Dragonfly's life is ended. There is, howe\er, a small
brown Dragonfl}-, Synipycna fiisca, found on the Con-
tinent of Europe, but not so far discovered in Britain, and
probabl)' not to be found here, which winters in the
perfect form, when the weather is not too se\ere, hiding
in the heather, and coming out in the winter sunshine to
remind us of the summer that is gone, and to be an
earnest of that which is to come.

are quite mature in appearance. The inference would seem to be that
" maturity " is caused by usl\ not merely by ai^c or exposure. All four
wings must have been equal in age and exposure, but only the three
uninjured ones had had actual use.

CHAPTER III.

CLASSIFICATION.

That the Dragonflies are insects is, of course, at once
apparent — they are segmented, and the body is distincth"
divided into head, thorax, and abdomen, the thorax bear-
ing in the adult form four wings and six legs. But con-
siderable difficult}' arises when the attempt is made to
find them a home in one of the natural orders into
which insects are usuall\- divided. No doubt most ento-
mologists take up the position that they constitute a sub-
division of the rather nondescript order Neiiroptcra^,
though many incline to the view that they are of
ordinate rank in themselves, while a few would attach
them to the OrtJioptcra, which order the\' approach in
several respects.

For exponents of the last view we must usuall}- look
to Continental writers : it does not find favour with
British naturalists, though in the mouth structure and in
their incomplete metamorphosis — that is, the want of a
clear line of demarcation between the larval and ])upal
stage.s — Dragonflies certainl\- bear a resemblance to the
OrtJioptcTa. Should it be necessary, however, to bring

* Greek vivpov =^7^ nerve; ■iTTip6v =^ \\\w^.

Classification. 27

about this connection, the newer term, OrtJwptcra, would
probably have to be dropped in favour of the older one,
Neiiroptera, of which order Linnaeus seems to look upon
the Dragonflies as the t}'pe.

Seeing" that but a small proportion (perhaps not more
than one in ten) of the Ncuroptera of the world have
come under the examination of entomologists, and that
the life-histor}' of but few even of these has been
studied, it seems best to adopt the older view of the order,
and look upon the Dragonflies as part of the Xciiroptcra,
using the term in the oldest sense as empkn'ed by
Linnitus. Later, when more indi\'iduals have been clis-
co\ered, their life-histories worked out, and their affinities
established, it may be found necessar\' to break up the
order, and possibl}^ to place the different parts of it more
satisfactorily.

So heterogeneous are the groups of insects comprising
the order that it is not eas}' to draw up a comprehensive
list of characters possessed b}' the whole. The order Neii-
roptera may, howe\-er, thus be diagnosed : jMctamorpJiosis
complete or incomplete ; month of imago mandibnlate,
t/iat is, suited for biting ; iv<iiigs (sometimes not present)
four, similar in texture, naked (or hairy), usually loith
a close net-K'ork of nervures ; abdomen never armed zoith
a sting.

It now becomes necessary to sub-divide the order —
a b)- no means eas}- task. McLachlan^ does so as
follows :

I. Psendo-neuroptcra, containing the Psocicla,-, Perlidce,
and the Ephemerida?, or Ma^-flies.

*A catalogue of British Neuroptera, published by Entom. Soc. of London,
1870.

28 BritisJi Di-ai^-oi/fics.

2. Odonata, or Dragonflies.

3. Neitroptcra-planipciuiia, containing the SialicLt, or
Alderflies ; RaphidiicL^e, or Snakeflies ; Osm\-lida; ;
Hemerobiida^ ; Chrysopida;, or Lacewings ; Coniop-
terygidit ; and Panorpidse, or Scorpionflies.

4. TricJioptcra, or Caddis-flies.

The McxllopJiaga, or Bird-hce, &c., are b}' some
added to tlie N^ciiroptcra, and if so they form a first
division in front of the Psocidct. The Embiidai and
Termitida.', or white ants ('neither of which is represented
in Britain J, fall into the Psr/ido-iic/iroptcrn. The Perlida;,
Odonata, and P2phemerid?e are sometimes united under
the name of Ncnroptcra-aiiphibiotica, the nx'mphs of all
of them being aquatic.

Brauer, in a s\-stem of classification of insects
proposed in iSSs,"^ divides them into seventeen orders,
and of these seven are made from the Xcuroptera
as usuall)^ understood, while the Embiida; form part
of an eighth — the OrtJioptcra.

The seven are :

1. Ephemeridai.

2. Odonata.

3. Plecoptera (= Perlida^).

4. Corrodentia (= Termitida-, Psocidas, and Mallo-

phaga).

5. Neuroptera (= Hemerobiicke and Sialida).

6. Panorpat;e (= Panorpida;).

7. Trichoptera.

* " Syst. Zool. Studicn," AN'icn, 1885.

Classification. 29

Next }-ear (1886), Packard ]jublished in the Aiiicricau
Naturalist'^ a somewhat similar scheme. He makes
sixteen orders, our Nciiroptera being distributed amongst
six, as follows :

1. Plat}-ptera (=Termitidce and Alallophaga).

2. Odonata.

3. Plectoptera (= Ephemcrida.').

4. Xeuroptera (net-veined insects, with metamor-

phosis complete).

5. Alecaptera {= Panorpid;^).

6. Trichoptera.

So distinct are the Odonata, e\en from their nearest
allies — the Ephcvicridcc — that it seems almost ne-
cessary" to give them ordinate rank, whether all
of the numerous sub-divisions of the Xeuroptera sug-
gested b}- Brauer and Packard are finalh' adopted
or not.

The Odonata ma}- be described as : Insects loith
incomplete metamorphosis, possessim^ no real pupal stage,
and undergoing a great change at the final eedysis. The
nynph is aquatic. The imagines have large eyes, small
bristle-like anteiuuc, head ivith great capability of nuwe-
moit, and a lon^ body. The four ivings are more or less
equal and transparent, -loith the main nerz'ures longitudinal^
crossed by numerous transverse nervures, forming an
intricate meshivork of cells. The ivings are quite posterior
to the legs.

* American Naturalist, xx., 1886.

30

British Dragonflies.

The Odonata may be thus sub-divided

Super-family ANISOPTERIDES.

F"amily Lib?:llULID.E.

Sub-family Libellitlincz.
S u b - fa m i 1 y Cord it Hi nee.

Family /EsCHNlD.E.

Sub-famil}^ GonpJiincu.
Sub-family Cordulci^astcriHce.
S u b - fa m i 1 } • . -Esc/i u in cc.

Super-family ZYGOPTERIDES.

Family Agrionid.e.

Sub-family Caloptcrygince.
Sub-family Agrionince.

CHAPTER IV.

THE NYMPH.

Unlike the Lcpidoptcra and some other grou]:)s of
insects, the Dragonflies, as previous!}' mentioned, do not
pass through three distinct stages of existence — the
larva, the pupa, and the imago. They have an " im-
perfect metamorphosis " ; that is, the first two stages
are merged into one, and to it the name of iiyuiph (or
larva-nymph) is usually given. Gorgeous colours and a
slender graceful form, accompanied often b}- rapid
flight, would probably be looked upon as especially
distinctive of a Dragonfly ; yet in the nymph stage
the insect is in general characterised by dingy colourings
slow and laboured movements, and ungainly, if not
hideous, form.

The tints assumed range from bright green, through
yellowish-green, to brown, or even almost black,
usually, but not cjuite always, unaccompanied b}- any
conspicuous markings. General ground-colour goes for
very little, for of two individuals of the same species,
especially among the Agrionijuc, one may be bright
green and another quite dark brown, and probabl}- the
same range of tints may be borne by the same
individual at different times. Colouring, in fact, seems

32 BritisJi Dragoiiflics

to depend almost entirely on the environment. If a
nymph is hving on the mud it is brown ; if on a dead
stick ahnost black ; while should it make its home
amongst the weeds, it clothes itself in a dress of
harmonious colouring — green, and sometimes of the
brightest emerald tint. This chameleon-like adaptabilit}-
to its surroundings no doubt serves a double purpose,
that of hiding the n}'mph from its enemies, and at the
same time enabling it, without being suspected, to
approach within striking distance of its prey.

Probably also form, no less than colour, conduces
materially to the ^\•ell-being of the young Dragonfly.
Those who search for n}'mphs know only too well how
difficult the /Eschnas are to distinguish from the
broken bark on a water-logged stick, or how well a
Caloptcryx is hidden amidst the roots of the reeds.
Amongst the dead leaves and rubbish at the bottom of
a pond a Lihclliila, a Sympctriiiii, or a Coniulia looks
as much like a bit of rubbish as the}-, whilst an
Agrionine amongst the weeds almost defies detection.

Under ordinary circumstances, all n}'mphs walk
slowl}', indeed, rather stealthil}-, amongst the weeds or
along the bottom of the pond or stream, but when
disturbed or aroused by the near presence of some
living creature which appears suitable for food, they can
progress in a ver\^ different manner and with much
greater speed, though the method emplo}'ed to obtain
this exceptional speed is not the same in both of the
great divisions of the Odoiiata. To understand this it
will first be necessary to examine a little into the
structure of a typical n\-m[:)h from each division
(Figs. 1 1 and \2).

TJic Nymph.

l^

First, with regard to the breathing apparatus, which
is of more than ordinary interest, seeing that the earher
part of the insect's existence is aquatic, in which state
it breathes the air chssolved
in the water, while the
second part is aerial. Our
knowledge of the respiration
of the Dragonfly n\-mphs is
far from complete, but certain
facts ha\'e been well ascer-
tained. One of these is that
the Libcllulidci: breathe by
means of rectal branchiae.
The water is drawn in
through an opening between
the five anal appendages
(Fig. I I , lat. a.a., l.a.a., n.a.a.),
which are then brought to-
gether so as to close the
orifice. After the air has
been extracted, the water is
ejected, and this can be done
with such force as to propel
the insect through the water
at a \er\' considerable pace,
and it is b}' repeating this
process that the n\'mph
moves about rapidl}-, though

in a series of jerks. In place of the five-pointed
appendages the Agriouiiuc have three thin blade-like
lamellae (Fig. 12, c.L), which probably assist in respiration
as the}' possess a ramification of trachea:;, but are

D

Fig. II. — Nymph of an Axis-
DPTERiD Dragonfly

(AXAX IMPERATOR).

);;., Mask ; f., Vertex ; a.. Antenna ;
c, Eye; o., Occiput; /. 6./)., Position of
Leg-base Processes; p., Prothorax ;
m.s., Meso-thoracic Spiracle; k'.s.,
Wing-slieaths; /., Femur; t., Tibia;
t.}.. Tarsal Joints; k., Ungues (or
claws) ; 4-10, Visible Segments ot
Abdomen ; m.p., Male Projection ;
u.a.a.. Upper Anal Appendage ;
lat. a.a., Lateral Anal Appendages;
l.d.a.. Lower Anal Appendages.

34

British Dragonflics.

certainly used as organs
of locomotion. Pressing
their legs against the
body, they sway the
abdomen from side to
side, and use the
lamellae somewhat as a
boatman does an oar
at the stern of a boat
in lieu of a rudder. In
this way the Agrionine
nymphs are able to
progress at a very
fair pace through the
water. That the}^ do
not breathe entirely by
means of the lamella;
is clear, for the}- often
lose them, and live
perfectly well without
them, but the\^ are not
able to move with so
much ease through the
water, even though they
sway their body to a
much greater extent.^ In the Calopterygiiuc, of the
three appendages, the central one only is lamellar,
but this sub-family seems to be possessed of an

* Dewitz saw under the microscope "a stream of water pass in and
out of the end of the intestine " in an Agrionine nymph, and con-
sequently thinks that there may be a rectal means of respiration (Packard's
Text-Book of Entomology, p. 464, 484), but breathing is no doubt carried
on to some extent through the skin, especially in the younger nymjihs.

Fig. 12.— Nymph of a Zygopterid
Dragonfly (Erythromjia naias).

(Magnified).

References same as for Fig. 11, except c.l.
Caudal Lamelte.

The Nymph.

35

imperfect rectal respiratory system.^ Between the pro-
notum and the meso-notum in the full-grown n}-mph will
be found a pair of large spiracles (Fig. ii, m.s.) (some-
times plainly visible), while another smaller pair occur
just above the hind-legs. Immediately before emergence
the former pair are probably open,
and used for breathing atmospheric
air. The eight pairs of abdominal
spiracles appear to be functionless
during the nymph-stage.

In connection with the structure
of the Dragonfl3'-nymph the most
striking point is the mask f'Fig.
13, ;//.), a peculiar modification of
the labium, or lower lip, by means
of which the creature catches its
pre}'. The term mask is applied
to this structure because it hides
the lower part of the face. At
rest, with the exception of the tip,
the mask is out of sight (Figs. 11
and 12). The base is attached
below the mouth ; the hinder half
lies under the head and fore part
of the thorax ; there is a joint in

the middle, and the fore part lies under the hinder,
bringing the base and tip together close to the mouth

Fjg. 13. — Side-view of
FoRE Part of a
Nymph with Mask
in situ.

II!., Mask: It., Hinge; t..
Tip of Mask; Jii.h., Movable
Hook attached to Palpus.

* The five anal appendages of the Libellulidcr vary much in size and
shape, as also do the lamella; of the Ai^rio?iid(r. One or two of the
latter are to be seen in Figs. 41, 45, 47, and 53, from which it will lie
noticed that the differences are considerable, and it may be that wlien
more is known of the Agrionine nymphs the lamella; may be found to
be of use in helping to distinguish the sjiecies.

D 2

British Dragoiiflies.

'(Fig. 13). At the tip of the mask are two movable
joints furnished with hooks, with \\hich the nymph
holds its prey. These hooks are no doubt the labial
palpi, and from their appearance the term forceps has
sometimes been applied to them (Fig. 14).

Fig. 14. — Forceps ( = Labial palpi) at Tip of Mask of Anax

impf.rator.

(Much magnified.)

P^'om Fig. 15 it may be seen how the mask varies in
shape, especial h' in the anterior jjart, in the different
sub-families. The way in which this interesting organ
is employed is sufficientl)^ striking. When a tiny red
worm or other apparently dainty morsel is sighted, the
nymph stcalthil)- creeps along, step by stej), so as not
to excite the attention of its prospcctixe prey. Arri\ed
within measurable distance, which, judging from its

The Nymph.

1>7

false shots, it does not seem able to gauge ver}'
accuratel}^ the n)-mph puts into motion the powerful
muscles by which the mask is moved, shoots it out

--r

-■ •■ ?■

>'-^\

Fig. 15. — Typical Masks of the various Sub-families.

1. LiBELLULIN.t AND CORDULIID.E

{Cordiilia unea).

2. GoMPHiN.« (Gomphus vulgatissi-

inus). (After Cabot.)

3. CoRDULF.GASTERiN J. (Coydiilegastcr

bidentatus). (After Cabot.)

4. /EscHNiN.E (."I Hfl.v impcrator).

5. Calopterygin-I (Caloplcryx

splcndcns).

6. AGRioNiN.t (Eiythiomma

iiaicis).

p., Palpus ; /;., Hinge.

with lightning speed, seizes the animal with the forceps
(Fig. 34), and with equal speed brings back the
mask with its prey, which is by this means placed

38

BidtisJi Dragonflies.

immediately in front of the mouth, where the formidable
maxillae (side jaws, P'ig. i6) make short work of it,
struggle as it may and often does.

Fig. i6.— Mandibles and MAxnx.^'". of Nvmph of Anax imperator.

(Much magnified.)

To complete the references to Figs, ii and 12, v is
the vertex or crown ; 0, the occiput ; l\ the eyes ; a, the
antennae, short and usually consisting of seven joints ;
/., the pro-thorax ; -iv.s., the wing-sheaths. Of the legs,
f is the femur ; /, the tibia ; t.j., the tarsal joints,
usually three in number (Fig. 43) ; r, the ungues, or
claws. The ten abdominal segments are numbered
accordingly, the first three being almost hidden beneath
the wing-sheaths. Of the fi\e anal appendages in
Fig. II, u.a.a. is the upper, Idf. act. are the lateral ones,
and /.a.a. are the inferior, or lower, ones. In Fig. 12 the

The Nymph.

39

three lamellae are marked c.l. When nearing maturity the
sex of the Dragonfl\--in'mph may be distinguished in

Fig

-Vk.ntral Surface Fig. iS. — Vkntral Sirface

OF Ninth Segment of

XVMPH OF ANAX IMPERA-

•loK (Male).

(Much nugnified.)

OF Ninth Segment of
Nymph of Anax impera-
tor (Female).

(Much magnified.)

Fig. 19. — Leg-base Processes of various ^F^schnine Dragonflies.

1. Anax imperator.

2. Brachytron pratense.

3. ^tsCHNA MIXTA.

4. /ESCHNA JUXCEA.

5. /ESCHNA CYANEA.

6. ^SCHNA GRANDIS.

7. /Eschna isosceles.
(3, 4, 7, after Cabot.)

some species at least. It hes in the difference between
a pair of valves on the underside of segment 9
(Figs. 17 and 18), and in the presence, in the males

40 British Dragonflies.

of certain species, of a projection at the base of the
upper anal appendage (Fig. ii, ;//./.)• ^ useful though
rather obscure point which assists in distinguishing the
species of the ^-EschnincB, is to be found in the relative
size of, and the angle between, a pair of processes at
the base of the forelegs. In Fig. 19 those of se\en
species are given. Though man}' of the nymphs at first
sight appear to be smooth, a closer examination reveals
the fact that they are all more or less covered with
points or hairs. In some of the Libclluliiuc the hairs
are long and numerous. Libcllula depressa is a good
example of a hairy nymph, while Anax iuipcrator is a
comparatively smooth one.

TENTATIVE TABLES OF THE NYMPHS OF BRITISH

ODONATA.

Any attempt to give a satisfactory statement of the
points of differentiation of the nymphs of e\-en the
British Odoiiata cannot, with our present knowledge of
them, be very satisfactory. The families and sub-
families are fairl\- distinct, except in the case of the
LibclhilincB and Cordiiliiiue ; but it has been found
quite hopeless to satisfactorily tabulate the genera, and
this has not been attempted. The species, however, have
been diagnosed as far as circumstances would allow.

I. — Table of Families.

Body robust ; ahdomen widest near the centre,
and ending posteriorly in five caudal appen-
dages ; breathing by rectal branchi^. S^A)iis-
optcridcs\

a. Abdomen somewhat flattened and
much expanded at centre ; mask
spoon-shaped; eyes small, sub-conic,
projecting; legs longer than abdomen LniKi.i.ri.iu.'E.

The Nyviph. 41

h. Abdomen much move elongate ; mask
Hattened (excejit Curdtilegaster] ; eyes
larger, rounded, consjiicuous ; legs
shorter than abdomen ^ESCHNID.K.

Body long and slentler ; abdomen gradually
tapering posteriorly, and ending in three
caudal appendages. \_Zyi!;optcrides.~\ Agrionid.i-;.

II.— Table of Sub-Families.

[Family LIBELLULID.E.]

Head squarish ; antennx" seven-jointed ; abdo-
men sometimes not truncate posteriorly ; mid-
dorsal line sometimes but slightly hooked . . LiBELLULlN/K.
Head pentagonal ; abdomen truncate pos-
teriorly ; mid-dorsal line strongly hooked ;
antenna; seven-jointed, long CORDULIIN.E.

[Family .ESCHXID.F;.]

Antennx' four-jointed and llattened ; fore- and

mid-legs with tarsus two-jomtcd GoMPHiN,*;.

Antennae filiform and seven-jointed ; all legs
with tarsus three-jointed.

a. Mask spoon-shaped CoKDULEGASTERlN.Ti.

b. Mask flattened ^^SCHNlN.li.

[P^amily AGRIOXID.F.]

Antennae with basal joint very long ; legs of
inordinate length ; middle caudal appendage
lamellar and short, outer ones three-edged ;

mask bilobed Calopterygin.i:.

Antennae with joints not conspicuously un-
equal ; legs of moderate length ; all caudal
appendages lamellar and equal ; mask tlat and
somewhat triangular Agrionin.Ii.

III. — Table of Species.

libellulid.f;.

A. Abdomen without lateral spines, or nearly so ;
body hairy.

I. Abdomen broad, obscurely mottled.

a. Very hairy ; legs short ; head narrow ;
eyes pointing backwards diagonally ;

42 British Dragonfiies.

mid-dorsal haiiy tubercles on se<;ments
4 to 8, those on the hinder ot those

segments being smaller depressa.

b. Less hairy ; legs not quite so stout ;
head broader, somewhat circular ; eyes
transverse; sharp dorsal spines on
segments 4 to 8, not hairy quadriiiiacidaia.

II. Abdomen more slender, distinctly spotted., canccllatuin [^).

B. Abdomen with lateral spines ; body not hairy.

I. Abdomen without dorsal spines.

a. Abdomen beneath with three longi-
tudinal black bands separated by while
ones, u]:)j5er surface ornamented with
white dots ; spines on segments 8 and i) duhia.

h. Abdomen unornamented ; spines on
segments 8 and 9 short ; head hollowed,
size larger striolatinii C).

II. Abdomen with dorsal spines.

a. Abdomen unornamented ; dorsal spines
on 6 and 7 and lateral ones on 8 and

9 small ; head arched ; size smaller . . sroticmii.

b. Lateral spines on segment 8 long, on
9 very long ; head flat ; eyes large ;

tibia; naked, size larger saiiguiiicnm {?).

c. Abdomen posteriorly truncate ; lateral
spines on segments 8 and 9 very small ;
tibiae hairy; antennas conspicuous, basal
joints stout ; head pentagonal.

1. Head and eyes small ; dorsal
hook present on segment i) ;
lateral margins of same segment

hairy inctalliia.

2. Head and eyes larger; dorsal
hook absent, or nearly so, on
segment 9 ; lateral margin of

same segment entire . . . . crnea.

^SCHNID^E.

A. Antennae four-jointed, flattened ; fore- and
mid-legs with tarsi two-jointed ; mask not
covering mouth, flat ; legs strong, formed
for burrowing ; abdomen lanceolate, flat ., '7'iihatissiiiiifs .

The Nyinpli. 43

Antennae seven-jointed; all legs with tarsi three-
jointed ; mask covering moutli ; legs formed
for running ; alxlomen rounded above.

I. Mask s])oon-sha]ied : abdomen not greath'
lengthened nor much tapering towards

base, hairy aiuuilaiiis.

II. ]\Iask flat ; abdomen mucli elongated,
tapering considerably towards base

a. Eyes large, in middle of side of head,
which is flat ; mask extending beyond
mid-legs ; lateral spines on segments
7 to 9 ; leg-base processes broad at tip,
enclosing a right angle (P'ig. 19) . . . . iinpcrator.

b. Eyes rounded, at fore corners of head ;
mask extending to mid-legs ; lateral
spines on segments b to 9.

1. Leg-base processes equal,
blunt, stout, not much sepa-
rated, anterior narrower. . . . tnixta.

2. Leg-base processes equal, sharp,
long, bent outwards a little,

the anterior one rather slender grandis.

3. Leg - l)ase processes equal,
sln)rt, enclosing a riglit angle,
anterior smaller cyaiwa.

4. Leg - base processes much
smaller than in cyauea (which
species the nym]')h resembles) ;
anterior half length of pos-
terior; body looked at from

side much flatter than cyauea. jtiucea.
5- Leg-base processes triangular,
sharp, enclosing an acute
angle, anterior half length of
posterior isosceles.

c. Eyes small at fore corners of head,
projecting in a bead-like manner ; mask,
extending about to mid-legs ; lateral
spines on segments 6 to 9 small ;
body slender; >ides of head sloping
much backwarcis ; leg-base processes
slightly separated, shar]5, anterior al^out
twice as long and half as wide as
posterior prateiise.

44 British Dragouflics.

AGRIONID^E.

A. Middle caudal appendat,'e lamellar, laterals three-

edged.
I. A raised plate on fore part of head bearing
the ocelli ; caudal appendages perhaps
proportionally shorter and more slender

than in C. splendens virgo.

II. More highly developed caudal appendages ;

head somewhat pointed in front . . . . splendens.

B. All caudal appendages lamellar, traversed by

much-branched trachece.
I. Lamellae rounded at tip, spotted and

banded ; antenna.' six-jointed . . . . naias.

II. Laniellce pointed at tip ; antennae usually
seven-jointed.

a. Lamella.' coloured.

1. Lamellai mottled with brown;
body comparatively short and

stout nympluila.

2. Lamellae spotted, long ; eyes

large pcnnipes.

b. Lamella; hyaline, or nearly so, except
the trachea;.

1. Lamellx' with one margin only

hairy pumiLio.

2. Lamella; with both margins
hairy.

i. Several segments of
abdomen marked dorsally
with four dark, curved,
• longitudinal lines . . . . elegaiis.

ii. Abdomen with a darker
longitudinal streak,

thickest at the base of
the segments on each side
of medio-dorsal paler line piiclla.

iii. Dorsal surface of abdo-
men with a central dark
patch on each segment
(except lo), containing
a pale, pear-shaped or
triangular one ; lamella;
rather broa<l, })ointed, a
thin black line across
the middle tvat/iigeruin.

CHAPTKR V

THE IMAGO.

So great is the general likeness amongst the imagines
of the Dragonflies, that no difficulty need be experienced
in recognising the oneness of the group even by the
merest tyro. The head, though varj-ing greatly in
details, is al\va}-s large and conca\e behind. The thorax
tapers anteriorh' and enters the hollow, where it is lightly
attached to the head — so slight indeed is the attach-
ment of the latter that its capability of rotation and
movement is ver\- great ; in fact, although recognising
the impossibilit}' one cannot helj^ conceiving the idea
that the head is simply balanced on the projecting point of
the thorax and not attached at all. The thorax has the
three usual divisions, though the meso- and meta-thorax
are modified in rather an unusual manner : as append-
ages it possesses six legs and four wings. There are
ten segments to the abdomen, and also a small eleventh
one in the female (very rudimentar\- in the male), and
attached to the posterior ]3art of tlie body are two or
more anal appendages.

Eyes of large size and wonderful brilliancy are the most
striking features of a Dragonfly's head. In one division

46 British Dj'cigonflies.

— the Anisoptcridcs — they are contiguous (not, however
in the GonipJiina;) to a greater or less extent along the
middle line of the head, but in the other division — the
Zygoptcridcs — in which the head is transversely broad, or
hammer-shaped, they are separated to a considerable
degree. The number of hexagonal facets is very large,
and in many cases the upper facets are of a greater size
than the lower ones, this difference in size being prob-
ably co-ordinate with a difference in function. It has
been suggested that the lower facets are suited for
seeing objects near at hand, while the upper ones are
used when the insect is on the look out for foes or
food. Dragonflies possess also three ocelli, or stcmniata
{i.e., rounded simple eyes). In the Zygopterides they are
placed in a triangle on the top of the head between the
compound eyes ; but in those species in which the latter
occupy too much space there is a prominence in front
of the line of contact, and two of the ocelli are placed
on this, one on each side, while the third is in front
and sometimes much hidden by the prominence.

The larger, swiftly-flying Dragonflies are able to see
to a considerable distance, as witness the ease with
which they sight one of their fellows, or some other
insect, some dozen yards away, that appears fit to eat.
Their sight, however, does not seem to be very perfect,
for they often approach very close to another Dragon-
fly before discovering that it is of a different species,
and not seldom turn away from an insect when quite
close upon it, having discovered probably that it is
not suitable for food or too dangerous to attack. They
are readily startled by a shadow falling upon them, and
by one's rapid approach, but thc\' do not seem to notice

TJic Imago. 47

a gradual one. It is very difficult to approach one
settled on the bare ground. ^Esc/iua jiincea and other
species sometimes have a proclivity, especiall}' on warm
autumn afternoons, for settling on the trunks of the
pine trees that fringe a certain pond in Surrey. While
so resting they are easih' frightened when approached
from the front, but if the approach is made from
behind the tree a stroke ma}- be made without frighten-
ing the insect, the handle of the net being dispensed
with.

Dragonflies possess short, hair-like, inconspicuous
antennas, consisting of two stouter basal joints with
four or five more slender distal ones.

Ql.

Fig. 20. — Head of ^^schna cyanea.

0., Occiput; D., Vertex; a.. Antenna; /., Frons ; ;;., Nasus ; j-., Rhinarium ; t-., Eye
labr., Labrum ; tcihi.. Labium.

Fig. 20 gives in outline the arrangement of the parts
of the head of one of the larger Dragonflies — .^sc/ina
cyaiica. That part of the head in which the ocelli are
situated is called the vertex, which extends back as far

48

British Dragoujiies.

as the insertion of the antennae. Behind this and, con-
sequently, in those genera in which the eyes meet, to the
rear of their point of junction, is the occipital region.
Anterior to the vertex is the frons, in front of which is
the post-clypeiis, or nasus, and in front of that again the
ante-clypens, or rhinariuin. On each side, between the
eye and the mouth, is the gcua, while the gida forms
the base of the head, and is bounded anteriorly by the
mentnm, or chin, which is situated at the base of the
labium. (See also Figs. 23 and 24.)

The lower part of the face is occupied b}- the mouth,
the arrangement of which is of special importance, seeing
that we are dealing with a carnivorous insect. It is
closed above by the labnim, or upper lip, and below by
the labium, or lower lip. This latter is composed of three
pieces, the median lobe and two lateral ones. The

Fig. 21. — Mouth-parts of ^Hschna cvanea.

A, Labium : s.. Side I.obes ; )»., Median Lobe. B, Maxilla.
C, Mandible.

former is cleft in the centre in the Agrionidcs, the
Cordulegastcriiice, and some Gouiphitice. In the rest it
is entire, although in the yEschuiitu' a line indicates the
fissure found in the other groups (Fig. 21, A). These

The In/ago. 49

parts, the labrum and the labium, move vertically
Between them on each side are two pieces, the
mandibles (Fig. 21, C; above and the iiiaxilUc below
(Fig. 21, B), which move horizontally. The mandibles,
which are armed with jagged tooth-like indentations,
are the parts chiefly concerned in crushing the food.
By some, and probabK' correctl}-, the side j^ieces of the
labium (Fig. 21, A, s) are looked upon as a second
pair of maxillai, but we are only concerned with their
function, that the}' act as parts of the lo\\er lip. In the
interior of the mouth, attached to the labium, is the
lingua, or tongue. When full}' open, the orifice of the
mouth is very large, an obvious ad\antage to an insect
that catches its prey upon the wing.

Behind the head, and in some species quite hidden
within the cavity mentioned above, is the prothorax
(Fig. 22, A and D). The pro-sternum, or ventral
surface of it, is small, but bears the fore-legs ; the jDro-
notum, or dorsal surface, somewhat larger, is in the
Agrioniiicc sometimes sufficiently varied to assist in
differentiating the species. The meso-thorax alwa}'s
greatl}- overlaps the meta-thorax — so much so that the
meso-notum and meta-notum are pushed quite back,
and the attachments of both pairs of wings are behind
those of the mid- and hind-legs. Especiall}- is this the
case in the Zygopterides.

Three tarsal joints are found in the legs of all British
Dragonflies, the basal one being invariably the smallest
(Fig. 22, C). The most noticeable point in connection
with the legs is the double series of long bristles
which adorn them, and which seem to perform a very
important dut}'. It will quickl}- be noticed that a

E

so

British Dragonjlies.

Fig. 22. — Lateral view of
Imago.

A : //., Labium ; /)'., Labrum ; ;;., Nasus ;
/. , Frons; an., Antenna; y., Vertex; e.. Eye;
p., Prothorax ; p.n., Pro-notum ; his./.,
Meso-thorax ; tns.n., Meso-notuni ; ms.s.,
Meso-sternum ; mt.t., Meta-thorax ; mt.}i.,
Meta-notuni ; mi.s., Meta-sternum ; /./.,
Fore-leg; m.l., Mid-leg; h.l., Hind-leg;
/.w.. Fore-wing; h.iu., Hind-wing; an.,
auricle; i-io, Segments of Abdomen;
n.a.a., Upper Anal Appendages: I. a. a.,
Lower Anal Appendage.

B: 8-II, Distal Segments of Abdomen
of Female ; a. a., Anal Appendages ; o.,
Ovipositor.

C : c, Coxa ; tr.. Trochanter ; fv.,
Femur; ti., Tibia; t.j., Tarsal Joints.

D : References same as in A, except
.s., ro-sternuin.

Dragonfly's legs do not
appear suited for walking,
and that in fact it does
not much use them for
that purpose. It will be
further noticed that when
projected forward they all
meet at about the same
level in front of the
mouth. Now, there is
very little doubt, though
on account of the rapid
flight it is impossible to
observe the fact, that the
Dragonfly, with the assist-
ance of the rows of
bristles, makes a trap of
its legs in which to catch
its prey upon the wing,
and that the pre}- so
caught is by the length
of the legs brought
readily in front of the
mouth, which b}^ its
great expansibilit}' is
opened to receive it.
This is certainly what
occurs when an insect
is offered to a Dragon-
fly held captive in the
hand by the wings. (See
page 7).

The Iiiias^o.

51

Thoui^rh possessing considerable differences there is a
great general resemblance between the wings of
Dragonflies. The main nervures all have a sub-parallel
direction, and these are joined by a large number of
small transverse nervures,
producing an intricate ^ y

meshwork of cells. In
one division, the Aiiis-
optcridcs, forming the
families Libcllulidic and
^-Esc/ii/ida\ the hind-wings
are larger and different in
shape from the fore-wings.
In the other division, the
Zygoptcrides, forming the
family Agrionidcc, the
wings are similar and
nearly equal. The shape,
size, and colour of the
pterostigma and accessory
membrane, the conforma-
tion of the triangle, the
number of ante-cubital
nervures, and the colour
of the costa, are important
points in classif)-ing the
genera and species.

On reference to Fig. 24, A, B, and C, it will be
noticed that five longitudinal nervures terminate at the
base of the wing ; these are, starting at the front
margin, the costa, sub-costa, median, sub-median, and
post-costa. The costa and median extend to the tip

E 2

Yii\

-D(>K.SAL VIEW OF
lMAGf>.

A: c, Eye; /., Frons ; v.. Vertex; an..
Antenna; o., Occiput; />., Prothoiax ; /.,
Thorax; ;;is.;;., Meso-notum ; int.it., Meta-
notum ; an., Auricle; i-io, Segments ol
Abdomen ; n.a.a.. Upper Anal Append-
ages; I. a. a., Lower Anal Appendage.

B: 8-1 1. Distal Segments of Abdomen
of Female ; a. a.. Anal Appendages.

52

British Dragonflies.

of the wing, the former constituting the front margin,
and being bent near the centre at the cubital point.

CUSU aic

euia "^

Fig. 24. — Typical Dragonfly Wings.

A: a., Anterior Axillary Callus; 6., Posterior Axillary Callus; f., Cubital Point;
d., Pterostigma ; f., Accessory Membrane (or Menibranule) ; /., Costa; f;., Sub-costa ;
/i., Median Nervure ; !., Sub-median Nervure ; _;'., Post-costa; k.. Principal Sector;
/., Nodal Sector; m.. Sub-nodal Sector; n., Median Sector; 0., Short Sector; p.. Upper
Sector of the Triangle; q.. Lower Sector of the Triangle; r.. Anal Angle (r'. Anal Angle
of Wing of Female); 5., Post-costal Space; ^, Triangle; «., Supra-triangular Space;
v.. Internal Triangle; k'., Basilar Space; a-., Median Space; y.. Anal Triangle (when
present); -., Post-trigonal Space ; arc, Arculus ; (i.e., Ante-cubital Nervures ; p.c, Post-
Cubital Nervures ; 11. s. a., Upper Sector of Arculus; l.s.a.. Lower Sector of Arculus
e.u.s.a., End of Upper Sector of Arculus; 11. n., L'ltra-nodal Sector.

B and C: References the same, except Q., the Quadrilateral.

The Imago. 53

where there is a thick cross-vein — the node. At the node
the sub-costa terminates. Near the base of the w'wv^ a
bent cross nervure joins the median and sub-median :
this important Httle nervure is called the arculus, and
from the centre of its distal side start the upper and
lower sectors of the arculus. 71ie upper sector after
proceeding" for a short distance divides into the principal
sector above and the median sector below (nothing to do
with the median nervure). Between these two are the
nodal sector, branching from the principal at or near the
node, and the sub-nodal, leaving the principal near its
basal extremity. The lower sector of the arculus bends
down till it meets the sub-median nervure at the
termination of the latter, from which point starts the
short sector. Between the sub-median and the post-
costa are three spaces — .r., v., and /. of Fig. 24, A ;
the distal one, /., is the triangle. From its aj:)ex, where
the sub-costa terminates, start two sectors — the upper
and lower sectors of the triangle. The ultra-nodal
sector is found between the principal and sub-nodal.

Such is a general description of an Anisopterid wing ;
that of a Zygopterid is fundamentall}^ \ery similar, only
that the triangle and supra-triangle (7. and //. of
Fig. 24, A) are united to form the cjuadrilateral, O ,
of Fig. 24, B and C."^ In the British Caloptciygiiut;
the principal sector is for a time near its basal end in
contact with the median nervure, which it shortly lea\es
again. A lens of a very low power will, however, reveal
the two l>'ing side by side. Individuals may perhaps be
found in which they do not quite touch.

.Some say that ti alone corre-ponds to the (juadrihiteial.

54 British Dragon flics.

When everything is still around, the wings of the
larger species may be heard beating at several yards
distance. So skilful is a Dragonfl)- in the use of its
wings that it is often impossible to see how it turns
in its flight, and it has been stated that it is even
able to fl}' backward, an operation which the author
has not been able to verif}'.

Ten segments, of which the basal one near the thorax
is reckoned the first, form the abdomen (Figs. 22 and 23).
Their shapes and relative sizes will be best seen from
the illustrations of the various species, and it will be
found that the variation is by no means limited. On
the ventral surface of the second segment of the
male are some accessor}' reproductive organs, from a
receptacle in which the eggs are immediately fertilised.
The sexual organs proper of male, and ovipositor (when
present) of female, are found on the ventral side of the
ninth segment. Attached to the tip of the abdomen of
the male are two superior appendages, and one inferior
in the Anisoptcridcs (two inferior ones in the Zygop-
tcridcs). The inferior appendages belong to the anal, or
eleventh segment, the superiors to the tenth. In the
female there are two superior appendages onl)-, both
attached to the tenth segment. These appendages,
which in the male vary greatl}-, are important for
classificator}' purposes.

Breathing is carried on by ten pairs of spiracles, one
pair on the meso-thorax, another on the meta-thorax,
and the remaining eight pairs on the abdomen. As
the insect breathes its abdomen rh\-thmicalh- expands
and contracts lateralh", not longitudinalh-, that is, it
does not alter in length, but in breadth.

The Imago. 55

For descriptive purposes the junction of the thorax
and abdomen is looked upon as the centre of an insect,
and that extremit}- of ever}- part or appendage nearest to
the centre is spoken of as basal, the opposite extremit)-
being known as distal or apical. The terms anterior
or fore, and posterior or hind, have reference to position
near or remote, respectiveh', from the front of the head.
Longitudinal refers to an\-thing l\-ing in the length of
the insect — along or parallel to its main axis ; trans-
verse means across the bod}' from side to side. That
is the right side of an insect which is on the right-
hand side to a person looking along the insect from
the rear to the head, as it lies on its ventral surface.

ANALYTICAL TABLES.

For purposes of classification chiefl\-, the following
tables have been drawn up. The\' generalh' refer to
very prominent features, and must be applied with
caution to any but the British Dragonfly Fauna. To
identif}' an insect it must first be referred to its proper
famih', then sub-family, genus, and species. Deviation
from this order may lead to confusion.

L — Table of Families.

A. Wings dissimilar, hind-wiiif^s usually broader
at base, kept spread out flat in repose ;
an accessory membrane present ; males
with one inferior anal ajipendage ; eyes
meeting on top of head (except Gomplms).
[axisopterides.]

a. Abdomen with lateral carina? ; females
without ovipositor ; triangle of fore-
wings with its long axis transverse, of
the hind-wings longitudinal LIBELLULIDiE.

56 British Dragonfiics.

b. Triangle of fore- and hind-wings similar,
long axis longitudinal ; males usually
with two auricles on segment 2, and the
inner margin of hind-wings hollowed . . ^^SCHXID^Tii.

B. Front- and hind-wings similar in shape, closed
vertically in repose (except Lesies, which
keeps them partly open) ; no accessory
membrane ; males with two inferior anal
appendages [zygopteridesJ AGRIOXID^Ti.

II. — Table of Sub-Families.

[Family LIBELLULID.F.]

A. Males without auricles on segment 2, and

inner margin of hind-wings not hol-
lowed ; abdomen never bronze ; anal
appendages of male simple; of female
short, cylindrical, or spindle-shaped . . Libellulina;.

B. ]\Iales with auricles on segment 2, and

inner margin of hind-wings hollowed ;
abdomen bronze-green ; anal appen-
dages of male elaborate ; of female
leaf-like Corduliin.e.

[Family .FISCHNID.F:.]

A. Eyes separated from one another ; abdo-

men without lateral carina; ; females

without ovipositor Gomphin.i:.

B. Eyes just meeting at a point ; abdomen

without lateral carina^ ; ovipositor

present in female CoRDULEGASTERlN.E.

C. Eyes in contact on top of head for a

greater or less distance ; abdomen
with lateral carinre ; ovipositor present
in female ^'Eschnin.'K.

[Family AGRIOXID.F.]

A. Many ante-cubital nervures ; wings

coloured ; female with white ptero-

stigma ; male with none Calopterygin.-i:.

B. Two ante-cubital nervures ; wings stalked

and uncoloured ; pterostigma present

in both sexes and coloured . . . . AORIONIN.I';.

TJic Imago. 57

III.— Table of Genera.

[Sub-Family Libellulix.i-:.]

A. Triangular dark spot at base of hind-wings.

a. Abdomen mid-dorsally spotted, sides parallel Leucorrhinia.

b. Abdomen without mid-dorsal spots, sides

not parallel Libellula.

B. Wings unspotted.

a. About seven ante-cubital ner^■ures ; adult

male red or blaclc Sympetrum.

h. About twelve ante-cubital nervures ; adult

male with abdomen blue Orthetrum.

[Sub-Family Cokdi'liixj:.]

A. Abdomen without mid-dorsal spots.

a. Inferior anal ap];)endage of male triangular Somatochlora.
h. Inferior anal appendage of male deeplv

cleft Cordulia.

B. Abdomen spotted mid-dorsally with yellow ;

inferior anal appendage of male notched
only at hinder extremity ; superiors with a
long basal internal point Oxygastra.

[Sub-Families GoxiPHiN.i; and Curdl'le-

GASTERIN.E.]

Each sub-family contains but one genus, and each
genus but one species, the ground-colour in each
case being black.

a. Size moderate ; yellow marks longitudinal Gomphus.

h. Size large ; yellow marks transverse . . . . Cordulegaster.

[Sub-Family ^-EscHNix.i:.]

A. Abdomen unspotted, but with a black, mid-

dorsal jagged line on blue or green ground ;
anal angle of hind-wings of male rounded :
auricles absent ; pterostigma narrowish . . Anax,

B. Abdomen spotted.

a. Pterostigma very narrow indeed ; anal
angle of hind-wing of male very bluntly
pointed ; inferior anal appendage of male
lightly notched at tip Brachytron.

58

British Dragonflies.

Pterostigma not \qx\ narrow; anal angle
of hind-wing of male distinctly ]iointed :
lower anal appendage of male jiointed . . ^schna.

[Sub-Family Calopterygin.!':.]
Characters of sub-family

[Sub-Family Agrionin.?;.]

A. Abdomen with segments i, 2, 9, 10 blue in

male ; whole abdomen bron/x'-green in
female

a. Eyes blue ; rest of abdomen of male green
h. Eyes red ; rest of abdomen of male steel-
black

B. Abdomen crimson, with bronze markings

C. Abdomen black ; segments 8 or 9 blue in male ;

a circular blue spot behind eyes ; small
apical ventral spine on 8 in female ; ptero-
stigma of male darker on fore-wings than
on hind ; nodal sector arising at fourth post-
cubital on fore-wings, third on hind-wings

D. Abdomen of male blue, marked with black.

a. Alid and hind tibia? dilated, whitish, margins
with long black spines

h. Tibia; not dilated ; a pear-shaped blue spot
behind eyes.

1. No apical ventral sjiine on 8 in female;
pterostigma similar on fore- and hind-
wings ; nodal sector as in Enallagma
(except fnermriale)

2. Distinct apical ventral spine on 8 in
female ; pterostigma similar on fore-
and hind-wings ; nodal sector arising
near fifth post-cubital on fore-wings,
fourth on hind-wings (or more remote) .

Calopteryx.

Lestes.

Erythromma.
Pyrrhosoma.

Ischnura.

Platychnemis.

Agrion.

Enallagma.

IV. — Table of Species.

Leucorrhinia, Cordulia, Oxygastra, Gomphus, Cordulegaster,
Anax, Brachytron, Platychnemis, and Erythromma, containing
each but one s|)ecies, the characters of the genus will determine the
species.

The Imago. 59

[Genuh Sympetrum.]

A. Lejjs yellowish.

a. Dorsal surface of abdomen of male vermilion,
often not well developed, with yellow spots
near the hinder margin of segments ; female
brown ; largest species iiriolatiiiii.

h. Dorsal surface of abdomen of male briglit
crimson ; nervures of wings crimson in lioth
sexes foiiscolo>nhii.

c. Dorsal surface of abdomen of male dull
red ; basal third of wing (more ox less)
deep saffron in both sexes flaveoluni.

B. Legs black ; abdomen dilated towards extremity.

a. Abdomen of male crimson sauguincuni.

h. Adult male almost entirely black ; a yellow
tleur-de-lys on ventral surface of meta-
thorax in both sexes scoticiiin.

[Genus Libellula.]

A. Wings without black spots at node; abdo-

men of adult male blue.

a. An oblong dark patch at base of fore-
wings, and a triangular one at base of
hinil-wings depressa.

h. Two dark lines at base of fore-wings, and
a dark line and smaller triangle at base
of hind-wings fuh'a.

B. AVings with a black spot at the node . . . . quadriiiiaculata.

[Genus Orthetrum.]

A. Smaller species ; pterostigma yellow ; wings of

female often yellow towards costa ; abdo-
men of male all blue ccvrulescens.

B. Larger species; pterostigma black; wings

hyaline; last four segments of abdomen of

male more or less black cancellatum.

[Genus Somatochlora.]

A. Superior anal appendages of male not angled

at middle, with two teeth below (Fig. 27). metal /tea.

6o British Dragon-flies.

B. Superior anal appendages of male angled at
middle like forceps of some earwigs, three
or four teeth below (Fig. 28) arctica.

[Genus .^schna.]

A. Abdomen nearly black, spotted with blue

(generally yellowish in female) ; wings
hyaline.

a. Eyes meeting but for a short space ; spots

all blue, nearly obliterating ground-colour. ccEridea.
h. Eyes in contact for a long distance.

1. Dorsal blue spots on segments 9 and

10, divided in middle.

(i.) Costa brown ; suture between
nasus and frons without

black line mixta.

(ii.) Costa golden; suture between
nasus and frons distinctly
black jiincea.

2. Dorsal blue spots on segments q and

10 united; two /arge oval yellowish-
green spots on front of thorax . . . . cyanea.

B. Abdomen russet, but little spotted ; wings

brown.

a. Accessory membrane small, pale ; without

mid-dorsal triangle on segment 2 . . . . graiidis.

h. Accessory membrane large, black ; a bright

yellow triangle on segment 2 isosceles.

[Genus Calopteryx.]

A. Wings of male almost entirely blue; of female

brown ; pterostigma rather distant from

tip of wing virgo.

B. "Wings of male with a large blue patch only in

centre ; of female greenish, pterostigma

nearer tip of wing spleinieiis.

[Genus Lestes.]

A. Shorter and stouter species ; wings larger ;
anal appendages of males (Fig. 38) ; black
spot on dorsal surface of first segment of
female rectangular (Fig. 40, a.) dryas.

The Imago. . 6i

B. More blender species ; wings smaller ; anal ap-
pendages of male (Fig. 39); black spot on
dorsal surface of tir.st segment of female
semi-elliptical (Fig. 40, ^'.) sponsa.

[Genu-- Pyrrhosoma-]

A. Species large and bulky; front of thorax with

two crimson strijies ; abdomen of male

partly bronze nymphiila.

B. Species smaller and more slender ; front of

thorax willmut lines (or extremely fine
yellow ones) ; abdomen of male entirely
crimson ; abdomen <if female crimson on
the first, second, and third segments only., tenelhtiii.

[Genus Ischnura.]

A. Species small ; black, with ninth and jiart of

eighth segments blue in male, not in female ;

hind lobe of prothorax rounded, raised . . puuiilio.

B. Larger species; black, with eighth segment

entirely blue (ninth black) in both sexes ;

hind lobe of prothorax narrow, much raised elegnns.

[Genus Agrion.]

.V. Male with a U-shaped black mark on dorsal
surface of second segment of abdomen, mark
joined to the black circlet behind ; female
blue and black, resembling male pidchtllitm.

B. 2^Iale with a U-shaped black mark on second

segment, not attached to the circlet ;
lemale abdomen black - bron/.e, except
yellowish circlets pitcUa.

C. Male with lilack :Mercury sign (Plate XXVI., n.)

— a circle with two horns in front and a
stem behind joining it to circlet — on second
segment ; female abdomen black- bronze,
with two blue circlets near extremity . . merciiriale.

[Genus Enallagma.]

A. ^Male with a black ellipse, generally joined to
the circlet on the second segment ; female
abdomen green or blue, with a large conical
black spot on most segments, but leaving
a fair amount of frround-colour between . . cvafliis;enim.

Months in which Imago is on the Wing.

Leiicorrhinia ditbia . .
Sympetruin striolatiim
foils colo?nbii
,, flaveolum

,, sangiiineum

,, scoticiim

Lihellula dcpressa . .

,, quadrimaculata

,, fulva

Ortltctruin ctsrulescens
cancellatum
Somatochlora metallica

,, arciica

Cordulia crnea . .
Oxygastra curtisii . .
Gomphus vulgatissimus
Cordiilegastcr aniinlatiis
Anax imperator
Brachytron pratense
^schna mixta . ,
,, ccerulea
,, jiincea
., cyanea

,, gratidis
,, isosceles
Calopteryx virgo

,, splendens

Lestes dryas

,, spoiisa
Platychnemis pennipes
Erythroniina naias . .
Pyn'hoso))ia nvniphula

,, tenellum

Ischniira piiinilio
,, elegaiis

Agrion piilchelhtm . .
,, pucUa . .

mcrcurialc . .
Enallagma cyaihigeriini

^

^

u

c

w

O

*

«

*

»

*

*

*

*?

From Longfield's "Lragonf lies": 1st Appearances:

Last YeeX April/ 1st weet my :

Pyrrncscma nymphula, large Dams el -fly. -4^/5*

Brac]nytrcn pratense,

gnd & 3rd weeks, j^y :
Co'rdulia aenea,

Ischnura elegans ,

Enallagna cyathigerurn,

/Coer^grion puella,

Dc. armatum,

Do. pulcliellurn,

Gomphu s vu Iga 1 1 s s iii'us ,

Lit)elli:la deiDressa,

6^^

m i ry Drag on- f ly . - ^/7 .
Jjoviny Merald. - //s,

latAuLY C. ^-i ,S.

Co.;j::cn Isclmura. -J/f

Coimncn Blue DaiiiSel-fly-*^/^
c.

Coimijon Coenagrion --^Z^.
d .

Norfol'K Coenagrion, ->V^<
Variaole Coenagrion.-^/;
ClUD-tail Dragon-fly.

Jc. Sus^ I}afis:(?r-,

Broad "Dodied Li'Dellula."'^

Do, quadriiriaculata, 4-3poT:ted Lioeilu-La. -j/?

Last weeK l.'^y/lst week June :
li^grion Virgo, Lei7ioiselle Agrion. -V<?.

Do. splendens , Banaed Agrion. - vs--

ISO hnn ra pu mi 1 i o , Sea re e Isc hnu ra . - 4^/7

ErytliroimTia r^ajas , Red-eyed laiLB el- fly .-//<?

OrthetrLiic cancellatum,
LiTDellula fnlva
coenagriorinercuriale ,
Ceriagrion tenellurn,
Anax irnperator,
Plat3^cneiriis pennipes,

Black lined OrthetruiL.-//^
Sc a re e Li be 1 1 u la . - ^/y
So u t I'i e r n C o c uci^ 1 i 0 n . - 4/<^
Sii^all red Damsel-f Iv.-y^
litoperor Dragon-fly, ^</f
Wn i t e - 1 e^£, e d Paris e 1- f ly .

2nd ^ oTd v;eeKs June:

OxA^gastra curtisii, Ora-nge-spot ted ELie raid.

Ortnetrum cceralescens , Keeled Ortlrietruui. ~^/s'.

Cordule^ster teltonii, CrOlden-riii^ed lira^on-f.

Aeschnea coerulea, Blue Aescima, -^/j^.

CO, isosceles, Norfolli Aeschna. -V^.

If 0VAV .

ScmatocMcra metallica, Brilliant Emerald. -V^

Do. arctica, iTortliern Eiuerald. -V/

0/Y/.r / Locality H I f^i Dbh^ok.

Leucbirrninia du'bia, Wliite-faced Dragon-riy.

Coenagrion has tu latum, irorthern Ccerxagrion,

Last vveeK June/lst weel^ July:

Aeschnea cvanea, Soutnern Aeschna, -^/<j-

Lestes sponsa, Green Lestes. —^<s.

Do. drvas , Scarce Green Lestes. --2/^

SvmpetrL-rr striolatum, Coininon ^mpetruiii.

■^ r.c.

Do. fonscolcmbii , Red-veired do. -A.

Do. flaveolum. Yellcw-v/ir-ged do.-^/f

2nd fa 3rd weelcs July:

Aeschna grandis, Brown Aeschna, - //jo.

Do. juncea. Common Aeschna. -^/f,

Sy .nip e t ru m sangu 1 n eu m , Ru d dy Sy inp e t r u in ' - //c^

Do. danae , Black syrnpetrum - s//6

La s t v/e e K; Ju ly / 1 s t _ w x_. A ug . :

Aeschna mixta. Scarce Aeschna. -4j/o.

Plate I.

Leucorrhinia clubia

(nat. size).

Sympetrum striolatum

(nat. si/u).

CHAPTER VI.

GENERA AND SPECIES.

1. Leucorrhinia dubia, Lind.

(Plate I.).

Synonymy.

Libclliila dubia, Lind. Mon. Lib. P2ur. i6 (1825) ;
Selys Rev. Odon. 50 (1850) ; Haf,^ Ent. Ann. 45 (1857).
Leucorrhinia dubia, McLach. Cat. Brit. Xeur. 11 (1870).
Leucorliiiiia dubia, Kirby S\-n. Cat. Neur. Odon. 12
(1890). L. rubituuda, Curtis Brit. Ent. xv., pi. 712
(1838); Sely.s Mon. Lib. Eur. 56 (1840). Diplax
rubicunda, Evans Brit. Lib. 28, pi. 21, f. 3 (1845).
L. niclanostigma, PLversm. Bui. AIosc. 238 (1836).

Vander Linden's description.

Mas. Caput viride, margine postico, et macula
triangulari ante oculos nigris. Oculi fusci, subtiis
virescentes. Thorax nigro-a;neus, supra strigis duabus
longitudinalibus interruptis, maculisque lateralibus^ duabus
majoribus, et quatuor aut quinque minoribus, flavis.

64 British Dragouflies.

ScLitcllum flavum. Abdomen nigrum : primum seg-
menting margine postico ; 2. fasciis duabus et macula
utrinque ; 3. 4. 5. 6. 7 macula dorsali, luteis. Appendices
anales nigral, superiores duobus ultimis segmentis
abdominis conjunctis paulo breviores ; inferior his
dimidio bre\ior. Pedes nigri. Ake alb;e, callis luteis,
macula marginali subquadrata fusca, membranula ac-
cessoria alba ; antica; puncto, postica^ puncto et macula
triangular! baseos nigris. . . . Long. 13-14. lin. extens.
alar. 26. lin, . . . Feminam non vidi. . . . Obs.
Haec species forsitan vera L. riibiciuida Linna^i est,
cujus descriptio illi satis convenit : sed nimia ejus
brevitas judicium certum ferre non sinit (P. L. Vander
Linden, " Monographi;u Libcllulinarum Europi^arum
Specimen," 16, 1825.)

Size.

Length of Male, 35-5mm. to 39mm. ; expanse of

wings,* 53mm. to 58mm. Length of P'emale, 34mm. to

36mm. ; expanse of wings, 52mm. to 55mm.

Male Imago.

Head. Face pale yellow, with black hairs ; labrum
narrowly edged with black ; labium black ; vertex black,
preceded by a broad black line extending along the side
of the eyes ; eyes blackish-brown, ashy-green beneath.
Thorax black, clothed with palish hairs ; on the front of
thorax two broad, longitudinal, crimson stripes, almost
interrupted towards the posterior end ; several other spots
and lines on the sides ; prominences between the wings
crimson. Wings hyaline, a triangular dark brown spot

* " Exjmnsc of wings" in all cases refers to hiiul-wings.

Lcucoi-rhiiiia. 65

with pale nervures at the base of the hind-wings, and
a short hne of the same colour nearer the costal margin,
a very small spot at the base of the fore- wings.
Pterostigina nearh" square, dark brown, 2mm. long.
Accessory niciiibranc small on fore-wings, long but narrow
on hind-wings, and conspicuous against the dark spot.
Legs black. Ahdoiiicii almost c\-lindrical, slender, swollen
at the base, not much constricted at the third segment,
rather down\', black, \\ith crimson spots, the crimson
markings being as follow : On segment i , a tins-
lateral spot and a line along the hind edge ; 2, except
at the base nearh' all crimson ; 3, a large basal spot,
constricted at the middle and ha\ing twrj tin\' dorsal
black spots near the base ; 6 and 7, a basal, dorsal,
wedge-shaped spot ; 7, 8, and 9, the hind margin crimson ;
sometimes 4, 5, and 8 ha\e small dorsal spots or lines.
Anal appoidagi'S, upper, black, c}'lindrical, pointed, as
long as the ninth segment, rather distant at base ;
lower, short, squarish, indented behind, black.

Female Imag-o.

In general appearance the female does not greatly
differ from the male. The labnnii is black except at
the corners. The spots are all pale yellow in place of
crimson, and the dorsal ones on the abdomen are
longer and more equal on the \arious segments,
abdomen itself stouter and shorter than in male. Basai
s/^ot on wings larger and lines longer, the spot on
the fore-wing being often produced as a line. Ptero-
stigina 2-5mm. Aiini appendages but little longer than
the tenth segment, black, c\'lindrical, pointed. Vulvar
scale consists of two small, thick, parallel projections.

F

66 British Draoonflies.

Immature * Colour.

In the freshly disclosed male the markings are
pale yellow as in the mature female.

Variation.

Sometimes the base of the wings is slighth' tinted
with saffron, but perhaps onh' in the female. Mr. J.
Arkle, in June, 1897, took a specimen on Whitegate
Heath, Delamere Forest, in which " all the wings were
suffused with smoky saffron, the suffusion being strongest
at the wing-bases and weakening gradually towards the
margins." De Selys mentions specimens with suffused
wings, though apparently not to such an extent as
in Mr. Arkle's specimen. (De Selys, " Revue des
Odonates," p. 52.)

Nymph.

Body of the usual sepia tint, broad and somewhat
flattened ; length, including appendages, 20mm., greatest
breadth 6"5mm. Head rather small, somewhat tri-
angular, width 5'5mm., narrow from front to back.
Antenncj; of seven joints, the basal two being short and
rather swollen, the rest longer, more slender, and
darker. Mask barely extending to the insertion of the
mid-legs, narrow at hinge, spoon-shaped, covering the
face ; palpi broad where they approach, and there
serrated ; middle lobe of mask produced into a blunt
point. Eyes as spherical, or rather conical, knobs,
inserted rather far back, prominent, the axis oblique to
the mid-line of the body. Top of head convex.

* Also called " Teneral."

LcucorrJiinia. 6/

Occiput hairy, hind margin straightish. ProtJwrax
rather small, collar-like, edged behind with a ring of
hairs. Mcso-tlioracic spiracles rather conspicuous, pointing
somewhat backwards. Lci^s long ; front ones iO'5mm.,
hind i6'5mm., rather faintly banded with two darker
brown bands on femora ; distal end of tibia; and of
third tarsal joint dark ; tibi;t, especially fore and mid
ones, hairy. Wiiig-cascs about 5mm. long. Abdomen
with a pale mid-dorsal line, somewhat raised at the
posterior part of the segments; about r5mm. away
on each side a line of dark brown suffused spots,
preceded in each case b\' a white one ; another row
of white spots, less distinct, outside these ; and on the
lateral carina,' a whitish spot at the sutures between
the segments. Segment 9 rather truncate behind, 10
small. Pronounced latcrtxl spines on segments (S and 9,
especially on the latter. Upper anal appendage
triangular, sharp, as long as segments 9 and 10,
whitish mid-dorsally ; laterals about half the length of
upper, lower two about as long as upper, rather darker
and narrower. Under side of abdomen with a mid-
ventral and two lateral (one on each sidej dark brown
bands separated and bounded on the outside by four
conspicuous pale ones. (From a nymph-skin obtained
at Rannoch, in June, 1S98, and given to the author by
Mr. C. A. Briggs, who found it at a very small pool,
thus proving that it breeds in pools. Perhaps it does
not breed in the neighbouring lochan.j

Date.

This insect has been found on the wing from the end
of May, in Yorkshire, till July or August in Inverness.

F 2

68 British Dragoiiflics.

Habits.

Mr. J. Arklc, who has paid much attention to this
species in Cheshire, says that it frequents heather-clad
undulating ground, where pools and swamps occur, and
that it flies low o\er the heather with a rapid flight
of, as a rule, about a dozen yards at a time. The
dodging, sparrow-like flight of the males is not easil\-
forgotten. That of the females is similar in character,
but they are not so difficult to net. The males have a
fine appearance on the wing — dark blue and carmine —
the blue appearance being due to the sun on the wings
and to the underside of the abdomen.

Distribution. y.f^^iJ^

In L. diibia we have a Northern species, found only in
Scotland and the north of England. But few localities
have, unfortunately, been recorded for this handsome
Dragonfly. Invcnicss-shire : Glencannich, Strathglass,
one (J. J. F. X. King) ; Aviemore, a few (K. J. Morton).
PertJisJiirc : Rannoch, fairly common (C. A. Briggs).
Westmoreland : Witherslack, one (J. E. Fletcher). Yo7-k-
sliire : Thorne Moor, near Doncaster ^ (G. T. I'orritt).
Cheshire : Delamere Poorest district — Oakmere Moss and
Abbot's Moss, very common (J. Arkle). Staffordshire :
Cannock Chase, two (R. C. Bradley). Lineolnshire :
J. C. Dale, vide E. M. M., vol. xx., 1884, p. 252).
H. Doubleday said that it occurred, but alwa)'s rarely,
among old gravel-pits on Coopersale Common, Epping
(E. M. M., vol. viii., 1871, p. 86).

* This locality was by mistake at one time recorded as Thorne Moor, near
Dorchester, and the southern locality was cited by various authors. The error
was pointed out by Mr. W. H. Bath in the Ento??iologist iov 1893, p. 108.

Syuipetnnn. 69

2. Synipetrum striolatum, Charp.
(Plate L).

Synonymy.

Libcllnhx striolata, Charp. Lib. Eur. 78, t. 10., f. 2
(1840); Selys Rev. Oclon. 40 (1850); Hag. Ent. Ann.
43 1^1857). Synipetrum striolatum, McLach. Cat. Brit.
Xeur. II (1870). L. vnlgata, Don. Brit. Ins. x., t. ^"^J.
f. I (1801) ; Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 95 (1836) ;
Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 50 (1840). Sympetnim vulgatnni,
Newm. ICnt. Mag. i. 5 12 (1833). L. flcxvcola, Har. Expos.
Eng. Lis. 156, t. 46, 4 (1782). L. ruficollis, Charp.
Lib. Eur. 80, t. ii, f. 2 (1840). L. sicnia. Hag. Syn.
Lib. V.UY. 35, n. 14 (1840}. L. uiacrocipJiala, Selys
Rev. Zool. 245 (1841). Diplax viilgata, Evans Brit.
Lib. 27, pi. 20, f. 3 (18451. L. varicgata (?),* Mull
Faun. Fridr. 62, n. 548 (1764).

[Kirliy looks upon this insect as a variety of Svnipetnoii Tiilgnttiin
(Kirby Syn. Cat. Xeur. Odon. 14, 1890) ; but prol^ably most
entomologists consider them disiinct sjiecies. Synonymy of S.
vulgatum : Libellula 7'ulgata. Linn. .S3st. Xat. i. 545. n. 3
(1758); Linn. Faun. Suec. 372 (17(11); Charp. Lili. Kur. 71),
t. II, f. I (1S40) ; Selys Rev. Odon. 45 (18501: Ha,i,^ Ent. Ann. 44
(1857); Syinpetniiii ?7//;W/c/;/. McLach. Cat. Brit. Xeur. 11 (1870)].

Charpentier's description,

Haec Lib. praecedente {i.e., L. nigripes = S. saugiiincnm^
paullulo maior, et in utroque sexu eiusdem magnitudinis

* M. Hagen suppose que la striolata repond a la vai-ici^ata de Miiller.
Aujourd'hui meme nous ne pouvons quere diagnostiquer f'acilement la
".•ulgata de la striolata, mais lors meme que I'espece de !Miiller serait celle-ci,
on ne pourrait lui restituer le nom de 7'ariegata, car il etait deja applique par
Linne a une espece de Tlnde. (De .Seivs, "Revue des (_)donates,"" p. 44).

JO British Dragonflies.

est. Caput globosum, flavidum ; maris adulti frons semper

flavida. Oculi gilvi, superne rufo-brunnei. Tempora

flava, glabra, maculis nonnullis minus distinctis nigris.

TriincHs : Prothorax ater, opacus, postice in lobos duos

semi-orbiculares elevatus : margine antico et postico flavo.

Alitruncus lurido-luteus, in lateribus sulphureus, lineis

nonnullis atris. Collaris margo anticus colore vix nigro

terminatus. Tubercula interalaria maris adulti rufa.

A/ne h}'alinae, ad basin non coloratae : maris venis rufis,

foeminae luteis : illius parastigmate fusco, huius lutescente.

Pedes flavo-lutei, femoribus utroque latere, tibiis interno

linea atra pictis. Abdomen teres, cylindricum, ad basin

subglobosum, in medio leviter attenuatum, versus apicem

crassius, et in summo apice denuo attenuatum, id quod

etiam de foemina valet. Color abdominis maris idem

est, atque in Lib. nigripede \i.e.. Maris abdomen rubrum,

segmento primo ultra dimidium, secundo ad apicem

nigris : segmenta omnia ad apicem prope carinam

dorsalem lineolam utrimque habent atram, transversalem,

subimpressam. Segmenti octavi ac noni dorsum gerit

maculam mediocrem atram, et margines atro colore

circumsepti sunt]. Foeminae color e luteo aliquantulum

in lurido-viridem transit, et macula nigra in segmento

octavo et nono tam magna et dilatata plerumque est, ut

totum fere segmentum im[)leat, et in medio utriusque

lateris disculus maneat luteus. Caeterum margines omnes

ac suturae linea tenui, atra terminantur. In ipsis

segmentorum lateribus, praecipue mediorum, adiacet

lineola longitudinalis, atra, abbreviata, basin singulorum

segmentorum non attingens. Valva aperturae oviparae

incumbens, in margine antico paullulum excisa.

(T. de Charpentier, " Libellulinae Europaeae," p 78, 1840.)

Svinpctnnn. 71

Linnaeus' description of L. vulgata.

[L. alls albis, corpore fusco ; cauda simplici (Syst. Nat. i. 543 n. 3,
1758,1. Ahp albse, puncto marginali rufo-fusco. Corpus nigricans,
anus absque appendice (Faun. Suec. 372, 1761). De Selys (Rev.
Odon. 47) is satisfied that tliis description refers to the true vulgata,
and not to striolata.^

Size,

Length of Male, 39mm. to 43mm. ; expanse of wings,
56mm. to 62'5mm. Length of Female, 39011x1. to
42'3mm. ; exjianse of wings, 58mm. to 6311101.

Male Imago.

F(7cc and vertex dull )'ello\vish, with a black line
bounding the vertex in front. Eyes reddish-brown.
Thorax brown and hairy, prothorax dark brown ; sides of
thorax with three oblique bands bounded b}' black lines,
the middle band brownish, the others }-ellow ; projections
at base of wings scarlet. Legs black below, chieflv' yellow
above, tarsal joints black. Wings li}-aline, just tinged
with saffron at the base ; nervures reddish-brown ;
ante-cubital nervures 8, post-cubital 6. Ptcrostigma rudd\',
bounded above and below by a strong black nervure.
Accessory niembraiie rather small, narrow, whitish. Abdomen
cylindrical, slightly swollen at the base, expanding but
little at the seventh and eighth segments. Colour scarlet
on the dorsal surface, with the dixisions between the
segments yellow, and two tiny dorsal black spots on the
posterior parts of segments 3 to 8 surrounded with yellow ;
mid-dorsal keel yellowish, lateral keels black ; the basal
parts of the first and second segments black ; on segments
8 and 9 a mid-dorsal basal black spot extending more or
less posteriorly ; on the sides of the hinder segments
a lateral black streak, not al .va}-s \Q.xy conspicuous. A)ial

J 2 British Dragonflics.

appendages reddish ; upper ones c}'lindrical, pointed ; lower
one triangular, turned up slightl)' at the tip.

Female Imago.

Except that tlie scarlet colouring is absent the female
closely resembles the male. It is, however, a little
more bulky ; the black spots on segments 8 and 9 are
so developed as to nearly lill the segments, and the
black lateral streaks on the abdomen are more pro-
nounced. In very adult specimens scarlet colouring
appears along the mid-dorsal line of the abdomen and
on the prominences at the base of the wings, while the
pterostigma becomes ruddy ; but this is only following
the general law that females tend to assume the male
tints as they become very mature. The anal appendages
are short, cylindrical, brown. ]^iilvar scale somewhat
prominent posteriori}' ; in the middle of its extremit}-
there is a small notch.

Immature Colouring,

In young specimens the brown and scarlet are both
replaced by pale yellowish brown ; there are two yellowish
bands on the front of thorax, which can sometimes be
traced in adult specimens, and the pterostigma is pale
yellow. The sexes are very much alike.

Variation.

In this species there is much variation in size, and in
the amount of scarlet on the adult male. The dark
brown suffusion on the wings and the sepia tint of the
abdomen of many females late in the season are
simply due to age.

Syuipetrnm.

71

Difference between S, striolatum and S. vulgatum.

The following are some of the more important points
;'iven as separating these two insects :

that are usualU'

6^. sti-iolatiiiii.

1. Colour more yellow.

2. On the sides of the thorax a

brown band, between the second
and third oblique black stripes.
V Less marked, if extended at all.

4. ^Nlost nervures dark.

5. The incisions of the abdominal

segments and two very small dots
towards the liinder edge yellow.
(Male.)

6. Absent.

7. Vulvar scale slightly ]irominent, a

little notched in the middle.
(Female.)

8. Eighth, and ninth segments with

black s]X)t much larger than in
male. (Female.)

9. jSIid-dorsal raised line on abdomen

yellowish. (Female.)

^. viihzatiiui.

1. Colour more olive.

2. Absent.

3. The black line on the vertex,

containing the ocelli, extends
downwards on each side of the
tace as a margin to the eyes.

4. Piinci|)al nervures reddish, especi-

ally in some lights.

5. Abdomen without yellow dots.

6. A longitudinal black line on each

side of the first three segments
of the abdomen. (Male.)

7. \'ulvar scale very jiromineni,

neither notched nor sinuated.

8. Eighth and ninth segments with

a dorsal black streak as in male.

9. Ditto blackish.

Oviposition,

While ho\ering on the wing, and usually held by
the male per coll., the female deposits her eggs,
apparenth^ quite aimlessl}^ by dipping the tip of
her abdomen in the water.

Egg-
Elliptical in section, the major axis being about 5mm.
(Fig. 4., No. 2). Contents granular. The eggs observed

74 British Dragonflies.

were laid naturally, though not in \\atcr. About a
month after being laid, the unhatched nymph could
be seen inside one Q'g'g at least. When first laid
they were quite pale, but before hatching became
deep yellowish.

Nymph.

On pages i8 and 19 will be found some account of
the early stages of this n^-mph, the newly-hatched
insect being represented on a large scale in Fig. 6.
A description of the last stage before the disclosure
of the imago I have not yet been able to obtain.

Date.

June 14 is the earliest record I have been able to
obtain, and in 1897 I took them on the vv'ing as late as
November 14, but they seem to be at their best during
August and September.

Habits.

Though one of the commonest of British Dragonflies,
the male, when full coloured, is one of the most
handsome, and the appearance of this insect is some-
times enhanced b)' the addition of bright red patches
on the basal part of the wings, caused by the presence
of masses of red acari* (parasitic mitesj. A continental
species of the same genus, 6\ nicridionale, is, however,
more often and sometimes more completely adorned in
the same way. The insect before us has very well
developed that habit often found in Dragonflies of

* E. M. M., 1864, ]i. 100; 187(1, p. 95.

Sympetru in. 75

returning continual!}- to the same spot, where it settles,
often on the bare ground, after a short but exceedingly
rapid flight. It is ver}' restless and easily startled,
yet, strange to say, on one occasion a male came and
cautiously settled on ni}' hand, where I caught it by
the wing. When thoroughly startled, this Dragonfly
often soars away to a great height. Ver\^ late in the
season it becomes sluggish, and may be almost taken
b}' the hand.

Distribution. Zcrmtnoiy
This Dragonfl}' is well distributed throughout the
British Isles, but, being a common one, records of its
occurrence are not as plentiful as one might desire.
hiverncss-sJiirc : Strathglass (J. J. F. X. King).
Argyllshire : Island of Coll (J. J. F. X. King). Isle of
Man: Sulb\- ('H. Shortridge-Clarke). Westmoreland:
Langdale (J. J. F. X. King). Cheshire: Delamere
Heaths (J. Arkle). Ciernarvonshire : Heaths (J. Arkle) ;
Abersoch (J. Arkle). Merionethshire : Barmouth (R. C.
Bradley). Woreestershire : Xear Worcester (J. E.
Fletcher) ; Trench Woods (W. H. Bath). Wari.nek-
shire : Sutton Coldfield (R. C. Bradley). Oxfordshire:
Shotover Hill (A. H. Hamm; ; Brighthampton (Mr.
Stone, in Oxford Museum;. Berkshire: Xear Eynsham
and Godstow, near Oxford, near Kennington (W. J. L.) ;
Wokingham and near Bagley Wood (A. H. Hamm).
Bnekinghanishire : Marlow ( H. Bell-Marley). Candvidge-
shire : Chippenham Fen (R. C. Bradley); Wicken Fen
(G. T. Porrittj. Essex : Epping (H. Doubleday) ;
Colchester (W. H. Harwood) ; Wanstead Park {V. A.
Walker I. Kent: Deal and Dover District (C. G. Hall);

76 Brit is] I Dragoiiflies.

Folkestone (H. J. Turner) ; Heme Bay (W. H. Bath) ;
Sandwich (W. J. L). Surrey : Esher Common, Ockham
Common, Richmond Park, near Thursley (W. J. L.);
Bookham Common (C. A. Briggs) ; Bisley (A. F'icklin,
jun.) ; Chobham Common (E. Vincent). Hampshire:
New Forest and Sowley (W. J. L.) ; Wolmer Forest
(H. J. Turner) ; Christ Church (W. H. Bath). Isle of
Wight: ShankHn and Ventnor (W. H. Bath). Dorset:
Near Burton Bradstock (W. J. L.). DevonsJiirc : Lyn-
mouth and Exmoor (C. A. Briggs) ; Stoke, Exminster,
and near Ph-mouth (Parfitt). Seilly Isles: Tresco
{Y. Norgate); S. Mary (F. Walker). Jersey: S. Ouen's
Bay (R. McLachlan). Guernsey: Grand Mare (\\\ A.
Luff). Ulster: Armagh (J. J. F. X. King); Glass-
lough, Co. Monaghan (K. J. Morton). Leinster : Killucan
and Waterston (J. J. F. X. King). Muuster : Tore
Cascade, Horses' Glen, Ross Castle, Dinish, and
Coppagh Glen (J. J. F. X. King) ; Skibbereen, co.
Cork (Nat. Gazette, /\pril, 1889). Connaught : Broad,
Kip, Prospect, and Carrowbeg Loaghs, Carrowbcg
River, Mackree Castle, and Yew Point (J. J. V. X.
King). Sympetruin vulgatuui does not appear to
be a British insect, although Mr. C. A. Briggs has
a male which he took at Bookham Common in
1 89 1, and Dr. Hagen mentions in the Eutojuologists
Annual, for 1857, a female taken near Hull, on the
authority of Mr. J. C. Dale. At the sale of the
late Mr. Desvignes' collection, Mr. McLachlan obtained
a male, but there was no clue to the locality from
which it came.*

E. M. M., p. 220, 1869.

Plate II.

Sympetrum fonscolomhii

(iiat. size).

Sympetrum flaveolum

(nat. size).

Sympctnuii. yy

3. Sympetrum fonscolombii, Selys.

A«><'' V r^: ^, ■*-

(Plate II.).

Synonymy.

Lilhilnla fonscoloiiibii, Sel\'.s Mon. Lib. PLur. 49 (1840);
Selys Rev. Odon. ly (1850). L. foiiscolombis, Hag. Ent.
Ann. 43 (1857;. Sympetrum fonscolombii, McLach.
Cat. Brit. Neur. 12 (1870) ; Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon.
14 (1890). L. flavcola, Fonsc. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. vi.
144 (1837). L. crythroncnra, Schneid. Stett. ent. Zeit.
vi. Ill (1845).

De Selys' description.

Diat::!;)iosc. Parastigma grand, jaune. La base des
ailes inferieures et un vestige a celle des superieures
jaune-safrane. Les cuisses noires, jaunes en dehors.
Abdomen a peine plus court que les ailes, jaunatre (rouge
chez les males adultes). (E. De Selys-Longchamps,
" Monographie des Libellulidees d'Europe," p. 49, 1840^
He also gives a comparison with 6". viilgatum).

Size.

Length of Male, 39mm. ; expanse of wings, 60mm. (a
continental specimen). Length of Female, 39-5 mm ;
expanse of wings, 64mm. (a Spanish specimen, probabh'
rather large\

Male Imago.

Head. Face red, shading to yellow at the sides. Eyes
reddish-brown above, bluish-grey beneath, changing to
blackish after death. Lower /// dusk)', upper bright red ;

British Drcxgonflies.

vertex brownish, preceded by a black line descending
along the eyes ; behind the eyes bright yellow, with a
brown-black band at each end of the yellow patch, and
one intersecting it. Prothorax blackish, russet behind,
hairy at the margin. Thorax downy, red, with the raised
prominences carmine, interspersed with dull black. Sides
red, with two irregular yellowish bars, one about the
centre, the other basal These bars have sometimes a
bluish tint. Between the bars and the legs is a small
bright blue patch. Wings hyaline, nerviircs carmine,
becoming darker after death, a saffron patch at the
base of the hind-wings, sometimes also indicated
on the fore- wings. Accessory membrane rather
small, white. Ptcrostigma yellowish to pale reddish-
brown, enclosed within two strong black nerxures.
3mm. long. Legs black at sides, yellowish-brown in
centre, tarsi black. Abdomen c}'lindrical, not constricted
at the third segment, blood-red, fading to brownish-red
after death. The base of the first segment is black,
followed by a thin red line, this again being succeeded
by a black patch extending over about half of the second
segment in front, but extending dorsally back into a
point. In some specimens there is a small black dorsal
spot at the commencement of the third and fourth
segments. A black dorsal blotch on segments 8 and
9 extends over nearly the whole length of the segment.
On each side of segments 7, 8, and 9 is a lateral black
streak. Appendages superior, scarlet, almost as long as
the last two segments, slightly elbowed, with about
ten black points beneath, tips black ; inferior, nearh-
triangular obtuse, yellowish, blackish towards ti}j.
(Mr. C. A. Briggs' description from Surrey specimens.)

Sj'inpctnuji. 79

Female Imago.

Face conspicuously yellow. The crimson of the male
is replaced b\- yellowish-brown. Hind-wings slightly
tinged with saffron at the base. Pterosiio-ma bright
)-ellow, enclosed within two strong black nervures. Anal
(r/^pciuiagcs c}dindrical, sharp, orange, about as long as
the last segment but one. Vulvar scale short, notched.

Immature Colour.

The m.ale resembles the female in the absence of
the red colouring. The pterostigma, the costal nervure,
and the lines on the legs (except the hind ones) only
take on a reddish colour in very adult specimens.
(De Selys.)

Early Stages.

It is extremeh' unlikely that .S". foiscolombii ever
breeds in the British Isles.

Date.

Surrey specimens in June, 1892. July and August in
Belgium (De Selys).

Habits.

Mr. C. A. Briggs speaks thus of the appearance and
habits of the males of this species, as observed by him
in Surre\- in 1892 : " When alive this Dragonfly is
certainh" a magnificent one, the vivid colouring being
very conspicuous even when the insect is on the wing.
Its flight is generally similar to that of its congener
striolatnm, the insect occasionally settling on bare
damp spots near the water. But on one very hot clay

8o BritisJi Dragoiijiies.

I noticed them settling with drooping wings on the
flowers of rushes growing in the shallows some little
distance from the edge of the pond, the rushes bending
with their weight. Here they were safe, for though I
spent a long time in pursuit, wading after them in
water above my knees, }-et, even when an occasional
cloud was passing, they always leisurely ' moved on '
just when I laboriously got nearly within striking
distance. Some were affected by a dark carmine-
coloured acarus, and on one specimen I counted eighty-
five."

Migration.

There can be no doubt that the specimens of this
insect taken by Mr. C. A. Briggs and his brother in
Surrey in 1892 were part of an immigrant swarm,
about which, says the former, two points are worth
attention : " First, the total absence of the female.
Though no doubt, as a rule, in this genus the female
is either much rarer or is of more retired habits than
the male, still if the female had been there, one at
least must have been seen, as we were specially on
the look-out for them. The other point is that the
extremely early date would seem to shew that they
must have come from a much warmer climate, possibly
North Africa." "^

Occurrence, i^.^a"-*--^- ^^-r ■- - ^(^W/«

On Ockham Common, in Surrey, in June, 1892, ^1 iioi,y\A
Messrs. Briggs took seventeen males, the first twelve

*E.M.M., 1893, p. 9. ^^^' ^f ^'

f-tqoG

Sympctrum. 8 1

being captured on the 8th, and the last two on the
i/th. The locality was a very restricted one, as they
onl}' occurred at one portion of one pond, although
two other ponds were within a hundred yards. "^^ There
have been but three, or perhaps four, previous occur-
rences of this Dragonflx' in Great Britain. The oldest
is a female in Mr. J. F. Stephens' cabinet, t now in the
British Museum, supposed to have been taken near
London. The next, a male, formerh* in Mr. T.
Dex'ignes' collection, is now in ]\Ir. McLachlan's cabinet. f
The third, also a male, was taken in 1881 at Deal,
and is now, I beliexe, in the Dover Museum.:]: It has
been mentioned that one taken at Exmouth was
exhibited at the Entomological Society in 1887, but
there seems to be no record of it in the Proceedings.

4. — Sympetruni flaveolum, Linn.
(Plate II.)

Synonymy.

Lihcllula flavcola, Linn. Syst. Nat. 543, n. 2 (1758);
Staph, lllustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 96 (1836); Charp.
Lib. Eur. 74, t. 9 (1840) ; Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 45
(1840); Selys Rev. Odon. y^, (1850); Hag. Ent. Ann.
43 (1857). Diplax flavcola, Evans Brit. Lib. 28,

* E. M. M., n.s., iii., p. 194 ; iv., p. 9. f E. M. M., xx., p. 253.
+ E. M. AI., xxi., p. 21 ; XXV., p. 163.

G

82 British Dragonflies.

pi. xxi., f. 2 (1845). Sympctnnii fiavcolum, McLach.
Cat. Brit. Neur. 12 (1870); Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur.
Odon. 13 (1890). Lib. flaveolata, Linn. Faun. Suec.
372, n. 1460 (1761). Synip. fiavcolatiiiii, Newm. Ent. Mag.
i. 513 (1833-8). Lib. rubra, Miill. Faun. Ins. Friclr. 62
n. 550 (1764). Lib. aurca, Scop. Ann. Hist. Nat. v.
120 (1772 J. Lib. flavesccns, Fisch. Vers. Nat. Liv. 335
(1778). Lib. victoria, Fourcr. Ent. Par. ii. 348, n. 16
(1785). Syinp. aurantiacnni, Buch. Syst. Ent. Odon. 9,
t. 8, f. I (1878)

Linnaeus' description.

L. alis basi luteis. . . . Ha^c inter minores ;
variat rarius alis absque basi lutea ; forte sexu (C.
Linnaeus, " Systema Naturae." Ed. x. 543, n. 2, 1758). . . .
Lib. fiavcolata alis albis basi luteis. Descr. Dorsum
luteum ; subtus tota nigra ; thorax niger utrinque maculis
duabus obliquis flavis, pr^eter lineas duas flavas, pre-
cedentes. Pedes nv^ri. Fivus x'wcscqws. O cu I i gnscx. A he
omnes basi lata flava macula (C. Linnaeus, " Fauna
Suecica," p. 372, n. 1460. Ed. ii. 1761).

Size.

Length of Male, 31mm. to 37mm. ; expanse of wings,
48'5mm. to 60mm. Length of Female, 33mm. ; expanse
of wings, 56mm. (Female measurements from two
continental specimens).

Male Imago.

Face yellowish-brown, lower lip reddish, with middle
lobe black, frons pale red ; a distinct black line in front
of the vertex extending along the side of the eyes.
Eyes dull reddish. TJiorax deep red, with the projec-

Syinpetrwn. 83

tions at the base of the wings crimson ; on the sides
three obhque black Hnes, the middle one being short.
Legs black, with a yellowish line along the tibia; and
hind femora. Wings hyaline, the basal third of the hind-
wings saffron, and a smaller patch at the base of the
fore-wings of the same colour ; costa and other nervures
near it yellowish. Ptcrostigiiia 3mm. long, red. between
two black nervures. Acccssoiy incinbranc whitish, small.
Abdomen nearl}' c\'lindrical, but little contracted after
the third segment, not widened in the region of the
eighth ; in colour pale red, somewhat of the tint known
amongst artists as " light red " ; first segment nearly all
black, base of second black ; a small black mark on the
dorsal line of segments 8 and 9 ; two tin}' black spots
near the posterior margin of segments 3 to 7 ; a black
line along each side of segments 3 to the end. Anal
appendages, upper as long as ninth segment, cylindrical
pointed, brown at base, tips black ; lower dark brown,
short, truncate, turned up slightly at the distal edge,
whose margin is slightly concave.

Female Imago.

In the female olive-yellow takes the place of the red
colouring of the male, except in the case of the
pterostigma, which is red in the female also. Besides
this there are few points of difference. The pterostigma
is a little longer ; there is usuall)' a saffron patch on the
wings near the cubital point, and that on the hind-
wings is generally of larger size than in the male. The
vulvar scale is not prominent. The anal appendages are
about as long as the ninth segment and coloured like
those of the male

G 2

84 BritisJi Dragonflies.

Immature Colouring-.

In colour the immature male closely resembles the
female, and both, when lately emerged, have the
pterostigma }'ellow.

Variation.
Besides great difference in size, there is also a wide
variation in both directions of the amount of the wing
coloured with saffron ; sometimes it is very extended,
at others almost obsolete. Occasionally the basal patch
on the fore-wings of the female is joined to that near
the cubital point, forming a saffron band. The cubital
saffron patch is occasional 1\^ found on the fore- wings
of the male.

Early Stages.

It is probable that this species seldom breeds in the
British Isles.

Oviposition.

There is, however, a description in the E. M. ]\I. of
the method of oviposition observed on August 27,
1871, in which year the species was very abundant
near London. It is related that numbers of pairs that
day, which was hot, swept down from the hills and
kept hovering over a small, shallow pond at the bottom
of Shirley Heath, near Cro}'don. Each male kept its
hold on the neck of the female with its anal claspers,
thus almost completely controlling her actions. Hovering
steadily at about half-a-foot's distance above the water,
each male jerked his partner violently down to the level
of the water ; then, dragging her up again, he just shifted

Sympctruvt. 85

his position to a little distance and repeated the
process ; each time the surface was beaten b)' one
stroke, and only the abdomen of the female touched the
Vv'ater. Continued observation made it clear that but one
egg was dropped at a time, and that looseh', in the
water.*

The observer referred to above secured an Q^^, just
laid, and the female that laid it, with her partner. The
G&g was solitary, almost globular, pale amber-coloured,
;\mm. in diameter. She laid afterwards 123 more,
each loosely, in a box. A dying female, however,
deposited her eggs in one bunch in a box, but they
appeared not to be impregnated, and were got rid of in
her dying struggles.

Date.

August and September seem to be the onh' months
recorded for this species in England, but De Sel}-s sa}'s
it is often found in Belgium in October, and even in
the beginning of November.

Habits.

On Ockham Common, in Surrey, and near Elstead,
in the same county, in September, 1898, this Dragonfly
seemed to like to flit about and settle at every few
yards, either on the ground or on the herbage, after the
manner of many of the brown butterflies. In the former
localit}' it appeared to m^ake for the blossoms of the
Marsh S. John's Wort (Hypericiiin elodes), though, of

A. Miiller, E. M. M., 1S71, p. 127.

S6 British Dragonfiies.

course, this might have been only accidental. The
manner of flight resembled closely that of .S. sanguineiiin,
and somewhat that of .S". scoticum, but was by no means
so continued as that of S. striolatuiii. The saffron of
the wings was not very noticeable in flight, nor even
when the insect was settled.

Migration.

There is little doubt that in 1871 a considerable
migration of this species took place into the London
district, on which occasion Mr. McLachlan even saw
several examples in the Strand,* and Mr. H. Double-
day seems to hint at the same thing having occurred
on former occasions.t The }-ear 1898 witnessed
apparently another, though perhaps small, invasion,
which, from the localities recorded, may have come
across the North Sea.

Distribution. //\//;7/,v^<.'' -

Localities for this species in Britain are few. In 1871,
as already mentioned, it was very abundant in the
London District, and writing in the same year Mr. H.
Doubleday speaks of its having been very common in
certain years among the gravel-pits on Coopersale
Common, Epping, in August and September. In
August, 1888, Mr. G. T. Porritt took one specimen on
the Sandhills, near Dcal.X Mr. W. A Luff records
several at Grande Marc and L'Ancrcssc, in Gucrnse\',
about i89i.§ In 1898 this species was found in some

* E. M. M., 1884, p. 253. t E. M. M.,11871, p. 86.
X E. M. M., 1889, p. 214. § E. M. M., 1892, p. 73.

Plate III.

Sympetnim sanguineum

(nat. size).

Sympetnim scoticum

(nat. size).
I.Male Imago; 2, Femai.k Imago; 3, Female Imago (Immature Colouring).

numbers by myself (only males taken) in September
at Ockham Common, in S/er/rj', and one was seen later
near Elstead. On August 21, Mr. A. H. Hamm took
a male in Berkshire, near Oxford, and on August 31 a
male was captured near Colchester by Mr. W. H.
Harwood, who had also taken a specimen in that
neighbourhood on a former occasion. Curtis says of
flavcolata " taken by Mr. Lyell, at Kinnordy, in Forfar-
shire," while Mr. C. W. Dale informed Mr. Briggs that
it used to occur at Whittlesea Mere every year. De
Selys* says that it has been found in Scotland, but not
in Ireland.

5. Sympetrum sanguineum, Miill.

(Plate III.)

Synonymy.

Libcllula sangninca, Miill. Faun. Ins. Fridr. 62, n. 547
(1764) ; Selys Rev. Odon. 31 (1850) ; Hag. Ent. Ann.
44 (1857). Syinpetnnii saugnincuin, McLach. Cat. Brit.
Neur. 12 (1870) ; Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 15
(1890). Lib. vnlgata (probabl)' this species), Harr. Expos.
Eng. Ins. 156, t. xlvi., f. 3 (1782). Lib. fiaveola, Lind.
Mon. Lib. Eur. 15 (1825). Syiup. rufostigma, Newm. Ent.
Mag. i. 512 (1833). Lib. rufostigma, Steph. Illustr. Brit.
Ent. Mand. vi. 95 (1835). Diplax n/fostigma, Evans
Brit. Lib. 27, pi. xix., f 3-4 (1845). Symp. basale,
Newm. Ent. Mag. i. 513 (1833). Lib. basalis, Steph.

* " Revue des Odonates," p. 35.

British Dragonflies.

Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 96 (1835). Dip. basalis
Evans Brit. Lib. 28, pi. xxi., f. i (1845). Lib. angusti-
pcnnis, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 95 (1835).
Dip. angnstipcnnis, Evans Brit. Lib. 27, pi. xx., f. 2
(1845). Lib. nvsclii. Curt. Brit. Ent. xv., fol. 712 (1838) ;
Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 47 (1840). Lib. iiigripes, Charp.
Lib. Eur. yy, pi. x., f. i (1840).

Miiller's description.

Libellula sanguinea, alis hyalinis puncto marginali
ferrugineo : dorso sanguineo. (O. F. Miiller, " Fauna
Insectorum Fridrichsdalina," p. 62, n. 547, 1764.)

Size.

Length of Male, 33min. to 36mm. ; expanse of wings,
50mm. to 57mm. Length of Female, 33mm. to 36mm. ;
expanse of wings, 53mm. to 58mm.

Male Imago.

Face deep yellow ; frons of a reddish tint ; lower lip
deep red ; a distinct black line in front of the vertex,
extending along the side of the eyes. Eves dull reddish.
Prothorax dark anteriorly, brown behind. TJiora.x red-
brown, with three oblique lateral black lines ; attach-
ments of the wings crimson. Wings hyaline, the base
of the hind-wings and a slight touch at the base of the
fore-wings saffron ; nervures deep red of a blackish
appearance. Ptcrostigiiia about 2'5mm., deep red between
two black nervures. Accessory vienibrcme narrow, dark
except at base. Legs black. Abdomen deep rich crimson,
short, much compressed about the fourth segment and
dilated about the seventh and eighth ; ncarl\- the whole

Syuipctruvi. 89

of the first segment, and the base of the second, black ;
a pair of tiny, posterior, dorsal black spots on segments
3 to 7 ; a mid-dorsal black streak along segments 8 and 9 ;
each lateral ridge of abdomen black. Anal appendages
russet, the superiors cylindrical, pointed, longer than the
ninth segment ; lower one shorter, triangular, blunt,
black-tipped.

Female Imago.

In the female the crimson colouring is replaced by
yellowish-olive, except as regards the pterostigma, which
is deep ruddy, and the eyes which are reddish-brown
abo\e. Abdomen compressed be\'ond the second segment,
and not dilated at all posteriorly ; powdered with white
below. Anal appendages Ywssci, about as long as the ninth
segment. J-^ulvar seale not prominent. Pterostigma a
trifle longer than in male. According to De Selys, in
very old specimens the dorsal surface of the abdomen
is more or less red. Base of fore-legs }'ellowish.

Immature Colouring-.

Absence of crimson in both sexes is, generally speak-
ing, the characteristic of the immature state, its place
being taken b\' a \-ellow-brown tint. The saffron colour
is often more extended on the wings. The pterostigma
is light grey or blackish. De Sel}\s mentions that
the nervures of the wings are black, and that the
interior of the two fore femora is \'ellow.

Variation.

This species does not seem subject to much varia-
tion, if we leave out of consideration the colour of the

90 British Dragonjiics.

pterostigma, and the amount of saffron suffusion on the
wings, the differences in both of which seem usually to
be due to the age of the specimen. In the south of
Europe there is sometimes a tendency to decrease in
size, or suppression of, the black dorsal streak on seg-
ments 8 and 9, while the }'ellow on the inside of the
fore femora tends at the same time to remain in the
adult.-^

Elliptical in outline ; in fact, nearly circular. Minor
axis about half a millimetre, major axis a trifle greater.
Colour, after being kept in a solution of formalin for
about three weeks, }-ellowish, sometimes with a tinge
of brown. Contents, granular or oily. There did not
seem to be any pedicel. [The eggs, from which this
description was obtained, were a few extracted from the
dead body of a female caught near Sandwich in the
middle of August, 1898.]

Nymph.

Body of the usual sepia tint, broad and somewhat
flattened ; length, including anal appendages, 17mm. to
1 8mm. ; greatest breadth, 7mm. Head of moderate size,
in outline a flattened pentagon ; width 5'5mm. Aiitciuice
of seven joints, the basal two being short and rather
swollen, the rest more slender. Ufask tapering backward
to the joint which is situated between the insertion of the
fore- and mid-legs, narrow at joint, spoon-shaped, covering
the face ; palpi broad where they approach one another,

* De Selys, " Revue des Odonates," p. 32.

SyJiipc^tnun. 91

and there serrated ; teeth reddish ; middle lobe of
mask produced in an obtuse angle. Several whitish
markings in front of the vertex, which is itself pale
and conspicuous. Ej'es prominent, hemispherical, situated
at the fore corners of the head. Top of Iiead slightly
convex. Oeeiput rather broad, rough ; hind margin
nearly straight. Protliorax collar-like, a dark patch
in centre ; hind margin convex, edged behind with a
ring of hairs. Meso-tlioraeie spiraeles dark, vcr\' con-
spicuous. Tc'gs long, slender ; fore-legs lomm. long,
mid-legs 11 mm., hind-legs i6mm. ; femora ringed with
two slightly darker brown bands ; distal extremities
of joints dark, especially of tarsi ; fore- and mid-tibiae
slightly hairy, hind- apparentl}' not, but rather spiny.
JViiig-eases about 5mm.. long. Abdome)i with pale, long,
slender, recurxed, mid-dorsal spines on segments 6, 7, and
8 ; a pair of lateral spines on 8 and 9, those on 8 being
of moderate length, those on 9 conspicuously long — equal
in length to the last two segments. Segment 9 truncated
behind, 10 small. On each side of the mid-dorsal line
a longitudinal line of brown spots, preceded by a whitish
suffusion. Outside this row, on each side, more brown
and pale spots. At the lateral carina; on each side on the
posterior part of each segment a white patch. Abdo-
men not conspicuously marked below. Anal appendages
short ; iippei- triangular, pointed ; laterals shorter ; lower
ones nearly half as long again as upper.^

* Described from a nymph-skin found on Ockham Common, Surrey,
July 16, 1898. From what was known of the Sympctra of the district,
it was conchided that the skin might Ijelong to sangniiieum. Striolatum
was excluded simply on the strength of Nunney"s figure in " .Science
Gossip," 1894, p. loi, wliich must be looked upon as incorrect, for this
year (1899), Avhen ^. striolatiiiii was emerging, empty skins were again

British Dragonflies.

Date.

This Dragonfly seems to have been oftenest taken in
England in August and September. It is out, however,
at least b}- the middle of Jul}-, and Mr. H. Double-
day speaks of its being found in October. In 1898 I
took an immature male near Sandwich on August 20,
although many specimens on the same day were much
worn.

Habits.

Its colour might cause this insect to be confused
with vS. striolatuiii, but the crimson tint is much richer
and more pronounced than in the common species,
and it is not much larger than 6". scoticinii, which
it resembles in shape. It has a short, jerky flight,
and often settles. Though restless and easily startled,
yet, after being struck at and missed, it will often keep
returning to the same spot. It rests sometimes with
wings bent down over its sides, as has been mentioned
of other species of the genus.

Migration.

Perhaps this species sometimes visits us from the
Continent, and possibly 1898 may have witnessed such
an immigration on a small scale with ^. fiaveolum.

found, and the fact that they belon<^ed to that species, and not to
sanguineum was clearly established. The identity of the nymph was dis-
covered, unfortunately, only after the sheet containing the account of
stfiolatu7n had gone to press, and so too late to enable the
description of the nymph to be removed to its proper place on ]>. 74.
This discovery will also necessitate an alteration on p. 42. The doubtful
diagnosis of the nymph of striolatiim must be ignored, and that of
sangiiineujn below, which is also queried, must be lead as belonging to
itriDliili/iii.

Sympetyum. 93

Distribution. \\k^(<<^- Si/ss^^ >f^ •

Not man)' localities seem to be recorded for this
species in Britain, but perhaps it only needs searching
for and carefully discriminating from ^. striolatuin to
give it a much better footing amongst us. The species
does not seem to have occurred in Scotland or Ireland.
CainbridgcsJiirc : Thorney and Knarr Fen Dykes (K. J.
Morton) ; Littleport, near Ely (C. A. Briggs) ; Wicken
(W. J. Ashdown). Kent : Deal and Dover district
(C. G. Hall) ; Gravesend (H. J. Turner) ; Sandwich
(W. J. L.). Essex : Epping neighbourhood, on Coopersale
Common (H. Doubleday) ; Leigh (C. A. Briggs) ; Col-
chester CW. H. Harwood). HiiiitiugdoiisJiire : Monks
Wood (K. J. Morton). Bnckiughamshire : Marlow (H. W.
Bell-Marley). Surrey : Ockham Common, one (VV. J. L.).

6. — Sympetrum scoticum, Don.

(Plate III.)
Synonymy.

Libelhila seotiea, Don. Brit. Ins. xv., t. 523 (181 1);
Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 94 (1835); Selys
Mon. Lib. Eur. 53 (1840); Selys Rev. Odon. 48 (1850);
Hag. Ent. Ann. 44 (1857). Sympetrum seotieum, Xewm.
Ent. Mag. i. 511 (1835); McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 12
(1870) ; Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 13 (1890). Diplax
scotiea, Evans Brit. Lib. 27, pi. xix., f. i, 2 (1845)
Lib. eaueellata, Miill. Faun. Ins. Fridr. 61, n 537 (1764),
Lib. triedra, Mull. Nov. Act. Leop.-Carol. iii. 129,

94 British Dragonflics.

n. 19 (1767). Lib. veronensis, Charp. Hor. Ent. 46
(1825). Lib. pallidistigina, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent.
Mand. vi. 94 (1835) ; L)ipiax pallidistigina, Evans Brit.
Lib. 27, pi. 20, f. I (1845). Lib. nigricula, Eversm. Bull.
Mosc. ix. 240, t. I, f. 1-2, (1836). Lib. nigra, Charp.
Lib. Eur. 83, t. xii. (1840). \^Lib. flavcola, Linn. Syst.
Nat., and Lib. flavcolata, Linn. Faun. Suec, seem to
refer partly to this species.]

Donovan's description.

I'horax \\\\\\ two oblique yellow bands. . . . Male.
Wings transparent, with deep black stigma ; abdomen
blackish. . . Female. Wings transparent, with deep black
stigma, and yellow base ; abdomen yellow, with two
black lines on each segment. (E. Dono\an, " The Natural
History of British In.sects," vol. xv., t. 523. 1792 — 181 3.)

Size.

Length of Male, 3 r to 34mm. ; expanse of wings, 48
to 5r5mm. Length of Female, 27-5 to 33mm.; expanse
of wings, 42"5 to 52mm.

Male Imago.

Head and face black as a whole, but sides of nasus
and frons yellow, and of the labium orange-brown ;
some yellow spots also behind the eyes, which are dark
brown. Protliorax black. Thorax black ; on the sides
two oblique yellow bands separated b}' a black one
containing a line of three yellow spots ; two yellow
spots also in front of the anterior yellow line ; on the
meta-sternum three }'ellow spots somewhat in the form
of a fleur-de-lys ; attachments of wings, and projections
between them, dark brown or yellowish-brown. Wings

Syiiipctnini. 95

hyaline ; nervurcs black. Ptcrostigina 2mm. long, rather
broad, black. Accessory membrane narrow, whitish. Legs
black. Abdomen short, much constricted about the
fourth segment, and dilated about the seventh and
eighth ; black except for a dark olive lateral suffusion
on segments 2 and 3. Anal appendages black ; upper
cylindrical, pointed, as long as the ninth segment ; lower
shorter, triangular.

Female Imago.

On the face the }-ellow colour is better developed than
in the male, especiall)^ on the frons ; the vertex also is
yellow. The attachment of the \\ings yellow, and pro-
jections between them )-ellowish. A conspicuous saffron
patch at the base of the hind-wings, and a touch of it
on the same part of the fore-wings. Ptei-ostigma longer
than that of the male. The coxcc tend to remain }-ellow
as in immature specimens. Abdomen compressed, not
constricted and then dilated ; the upper surface is
chiefl}' orange-brown, this colour gradually decreasing in
amount towards the posterior extremity ; there is a black
band across the first segment, as well as one produced
centrally behind into an obtuse point along the base of
the second segment ; generall\- a more or less distinct
mid-dorsal black line, especially on the basal segments,
except the first ; two large yellow spots at the base of
the second segment below. Anal appendages black,
cylindrical, pointed, nearl}' as long as the ninth
segment ; eleventh segment orange. Vulvar scale

pointed and ver\' prominent. Other particulars,
especially the distinctive markings on the thorax,
resemble those of the male.

96 Britisli Dragonfiics.

Immature Colouring^.

The male closely resembles the female, the markings
in both being bright }-ello\v, and distributed as in the
adult female. The coxa; are yellow also. The ptero-
stigma is pale yellow between black nervures. L.
pallidistignia of some authors is evidently an immature
form of this species. De Selys says * that Hagen
often noticed the pairing of specimens with pale ptero-
stigmata, in which case consequently the male was not
black. The difference in appearance between mature
and immature males is most striking, and, unless care
is used, will lead to confusion with those not much
acquainted with the genus Syuipctruui.

Variation.

Size is rather inconstant in this species. In other
respects the male does not exhibit much variation. In
the female the distribution of the yellow markings on
the abdomen varies to some extent, as does also the
amount of saffron suffusion on the wings. Sometimes
this spreads a little along the costal region of the
fore-wings, and even becomes slightly more intense
near the cubital point, as in S. flaveoliim. I have a
female in which a good part of the fore-wings is tinged
with brown, as in old specimens of S. striolatiiiii.

Oviposition.

The method of procedure resembles that of .S". strio-
latum, and is fully described in De Selys' " Revue des
Odonates," pp. 344, 345.

* "Revue des Odonates," p. 49.

Synipctnini. gy

Length about "5111111., breadth about ■3mm. ; shape
nearly elHptical — perhaps sHghtly o\.il, the greatest
width being rather nearer the tin\- pedicel. Slightly
granulated. Colour \-ello\\ish-\vhite, but many became
dark ruddy brown. [Laid by a female caught about
September 15, 1897.]

Nymph.

Body the usual sepia colour of a very uniform tint ;
broad, somewhat flattened ; length, including anal
appendages, i6mm., greatest breadth 6mm. Head of
a somewhat triangular appearance, the base being
anterior and the apex (truncated) in the occipital region ;
width of head, 5mm. Antcniuc seven-jointed, basal two
swollen, distal five slender. Mask tapering backward and
reaching at the hinge about to the insertion of the mid-
legs ; narrow at the hinge ; s^^oon-shaped, covering the
face ; palpi broad where the\' approach one another in
the mid-line, and there toothed ; teeth reddish ; middle
lobe produced in a \'er\" obtuse angle. Eyes prominent,
conical, situated at fore corners of head ; very forward.
Top of head rather convex. Occiput fairl}- broad, slightly
hairy ; hind margin a little concave (nearly straight).
Protliorax collar-like, rather broad, margined behind
with a line of hairs ; hind border convex. Mcso-thoracic
spiracles dark, conspicuous. Legs very long and slender ;
first pair about 9mm. long, mid iimni., hind 145mm.;
mid- and fore-tibiie hair\', hind ones spiny rather than
hair\- ; femora ringed with two rather indistinct darker
bands Wing-eases nearly 5mm. long. Abdomen un-
spotted ; short, mid-dorsal recurxed spines on segments

H

98 British Dragoufltcs.

6 and 7 ; very short lateral spines on 8, rather longer
on 9 ; segment 9 slightly truncated behind, 10 ver\-
small. Anal appendages small ; upper one triangular,
pointed ; laterals shorter and slender ; lozver ones rather
longer than upper, pointed. [Description made from
empty skins found on Esher Common, July 18, 1897,
when the species was emerging.]

Date.

This species usually first appears at the beginning
of July in Surrey, though I have a record for it as
early as June 6 in Delamere Forest. It continues on
the wing till well into October, my latest capture being
October 17, 1897, in Surrey. It is worthy of note
that a female was taken in 1898 as late as Sept. 25
with the immature colouring.

Habits.

Generall}^ speaking, the flight of S. seotieiiui is not
long-continued, and it has the habit of often returning
to the same spot, though when thoroughly disturbed it
sometimes soars a\va\' out of sight amongst the trees.
Its capture is not alwa}'s an easy matter, for if of short
duration its flight is rapid, and the dark colour of the
insect does not allow the e\-e easily to follow its mo\'e-
ments. On hot days it delights to settle on the tops of
broken reeds and sticks, on the trunks of trees, or even on
the bare ground, to sun itself Let the observer remain
perfectly still, and his hand or some light part of his
dress may induce the insect to display the greatest
familiarity, to be repaid of course b)" immunit\- from
capture.

Syinpetritm. 99

Distribution.

In all three parts of the British Isles this interesting
little Dragonfl}- is to be found, though it is usually
considered to be more plentiful in the North. Whether,
as records increase in number, this will be found to be
borne out in fact, remains to be seen. Localities :

Invcvjicss-shirc : Glen Cannich, Strathglass, and
Kinrara (J. J. Y. X. King). Argyllshire : (G. T. Por-
ritt) ; Lock Awe (Leach, teste Donovan). PertJisJiire :
(A. M. Rodger). Stirlingsliire : Bog of Bannockburn
(Leach, teste Dono\'an). Westmoreland : Langdale

(J. J. F. X. Kingj. Laneashire : North (J. Arkle).
CJieshire : Delamere Forest (J. Arkle). YorksJiire :
Thorne Moor and Riccall Common fG. T. Porritt).
CauihridgesJiire : Knarr Fen and Thorney (K. J.
Morton); Essex: Near Epping (H. Doublcday).
Devonshire : Exmoor (C. A. Briggs). Hampshire :
Bournemouth (R. C. Bradle\-) ; New Forest (W. J. L. :.
Sussex: Near Liphook (H. J. Turner). Surrey:
Esher Common, Ockham Common, and near
Elstead (W. J. L.) ; Bookham Common (C. A. Briggs) ;
Richmond Park (W. J. Ashdown) ; Bisley (A. Ficklin,
jun.) ; Weybridge (J. E. Tarbat). MerionetJishire : Bar-
mouth (R. C. Bradley). Guernsey: Chene (F. V-
Theobald). Ulster: Glasslough, Co. Alonaghan ( K. J.
Morton). Leinster : Bog of Allan (J. J. F. X. King).
Connaught : Ma'am.mee Laogh, Mount Brown Laogh
and Yew Point (J. J. F. X. King). Bath also gives,
but without mentioning authorities, near Lanark, Isle of
Arran, near Aberdeen, Windermere, and Waterford.

H 2

lOO British Dragoiiflics.

7. Libellula depressa, Linn.

(Plate IV.)

Synonymy.

Libellula depressa, Linn. Syst. Nat. 544, n. 5 (1758);
Linn. Faun. Suec. 372 (1761); Charp. Lib. Lur. 6^, t. 4
(1840); Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 34 (1840); Selys Rev.
Odon. 8 (1850); Hag. Ent. Ann. 40 (1857); Kirby
Trans. Zool. Soc. Lond. xii. 284, t. 55, f. i (1889) ;
Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 24 (1890). Platetniin
depressum, McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 12 (1870).

Linnaeus' description.

L. alis omnibus basi nigricantibus, thorace lineis
duabus flavis, abdomine depresso-lanccolato lateribus

flavescente Hkc interdum abdominis tergo

cserulescente occurrit. (C. Linn.xus, " Systema Naturae,"
p. 544, n. 5, 1758.) DesCR. Faeies lutescens. Thorax
villosus, pallido-vircns, antice linea flava. Alee macula
marginali atra ; et omnes basi nigro-ferruginea,- ; intimo
margine albo. Abdoiiteu lanceolatum, cinereo-virescens,
segmentis 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 lateribus luteis ; apice obscure
ferrugineo ; ano setis duabus subularis brevissimis.
Femora basi livida. Pedes nigri. (C. Linnaeus, " Fauna
Suecica," p. 372, n. 1463, 1761.)

Size.

Length of Male, 47mm. ; expanse of wings, 75mm.
Length of Female, 42mm. to 44mm. ; expanse of wings,
75mm. to 78mm.

Plate IV

" Libclliila. lOi

Male Imago.

Head, warm dark brown ; face and e}'es of much the
same colour. Thorax, dark brown, \'er}' hairy, two bhiish-
yellow longitudinal stripes on the mcsonotum. Legs
black, with the base of the femora brown. Wings,
hyaline, except for a dark brown patch at the base —
oblong on the fore-wings, triangular and of larger size
on the hind-wings ; the nervures on these patches
)-ellowish ; three rows of post-trigonal cells; about 15
ante-cubital nervures, about 12 post-cubital. Ptcrostigvia,
black, rather narrow, 4mm. long. Acccssoiy iitciiibrauc
rather large, white. Abdomen broad, much flattened,
powdered with bright blue in the adult ; yellow lateral
spots on segments 3, 4, 5, 6. Anal ap/^endages small,
black, the superior ones slightly toothed below, and
the inferior one \-ery slightly notched at the tip.

Female Imago.

The female differs from the male chiefl}- in possess-
ing a broader abdomen of a tawny colour ; the yellow
spots are brighter and larger, and are present on the
seventh segment, from which they are absent, or nearl\'
so, in the adult male ; segments 6, 7, 8, 9 are some-
what strongl}- outlined in black, and there is a rather
distinct mid-dorsal keel ; the anal a/'/'endages are \-er\'
short. The faee is of a }'ellowish-brown, and so lighter
than that of the male.

Immature Colouring.

When but lately emerged, in colour the male closeh'
resembles the female. The blue coloration — a kind of
bloom which may be rubbed off — does not appear

I02 British Dragonfiics.

till the insect has been on the wing for some time,
possibly several da}'S.

Variation.

L. dcpressa is not a variable species. The female,
however, occasionally develops the blue coloration on
the abdomen, causing" her at first sight to resemble the
male in general appearance ; but a second glance reveals
the fact that the shape of the body and the form of the
anal appendages are those of the female. No doubt
the blue bloom onl}' appears on very old specimens,
and is therefore rather a sign of age than of \'ariation. I
have myself taken but one blue female, and that was
caught in the New Forest on August 2, a late date for
this insect. De Selys mentions instances of its occurrence,
but says they are very rare.^

Oviposition.

While poised upon the wing the female dips the end
of her abdomen and drops her eggs, apparent!}' quite at
random, into the water.

Egg-
Pear-shaped, with a little pedicel at the smaller end ;
size, about 75mm. long, and ■5mm. broad ; colour white,
with a pale yellowish tinge ; contents, granular. [Ex-
tracted from the dead body of a female which contained
a large number.] (Fig. 4, No. 3.)

Nymph.

Body sepia-tinted ; very hairy ; broad and bulk\- ;
somewhat flattened ; length, including appendages, about

* " Revue des Odonates," p. ().

Libclliila.

lO'-

25mm. ; greatest breadth, 8mni. Head of moderate size;
somewhat rectangular in sliape, the front formed by the
mask not being particular!}- prominent ; transverse width
about 5'5mm. Anti-niuc se\en-jointed, the basal two

Fig. 25. — Xv.MPH of Lieelll'la depressa.

(Magnified.)

being short and swollen, the distal five slender — of these
four and five are rather shorter than the rest, and the
seventh is pointed. ^fask equal in size to that of
L. quadrinuuitlata, and closely resembling it in detail.
Eyes at the lateral corners of the head — very small

I04 British Dragonfiics.

spherical knobs, with a prolongation backwards diagonally
towards the mid-line of the head. Top of head slightly
concave. Vertex not raised. Oeeipiit somewhat rect-
angular ; hind corners much rounded ; hind margin
nearly straight. Pivthorax rather broad in centre ; margin
formed of a raised rim. JMeso-tlioraeie spiraeles exposed
and conspicuous. Thorax almost uniform in colour.
Wi)ig-cases rather broad, about 7mm. long. Legs of
moderate length, very stout, rather wideh' separated at
their insertion (perhaps formed for burrowing) ; all parts
hairy ; coxae with lighter rings, femora obscureh' dark-
ringed ; length of fore-legs about I2"5mm., of mid-legs
I3"5mm., of hind-legs i8mm. Abdomen x^ixy hairy,
brown, with lighter and darker mottlings ; sutures light,
with a few pale spots dorsally ; segments fairl\- equal
except 10, which is small ; ninth inclined to be somewhat
truncated ; on lateral carina; at the hind corner of each
segment a tuft of hairs ; on segments 4 to 8 mid-dorsal
hairy tubercles pointing backwards. Anal appendages
rather short, sharp-pointed, hair}' ; upper and lower about
equal, acuteh' triangular ; laterals short, more rounded,
dark. [From a bred female. Fig. 25.]

Date.

Quite earl\' in May this Uragonfl}' appears upon the
wing, and if the season is a forward one it ma}' be
seen even in the preceding month. April 28 (Surre}',
C. A. Briggsj is the earliest date that I ha\'e found
recorded, while one was seen in Richmond I'ark as
late as August 14, in 1897 (W. J. Ashdown ). It is
usually at its best in Ma\' and )unc.

Libcllula. 105

Habits.

Perhaps this Dragonfly in as high a degree as an}-
exhibits the propensit}- for haunting a particular twig.
The pursuit of the insect is a somewhat exciting matter,
and its capture often requires a considerable amount of
perseverance, for though it does not appear to be at
all timid, it is nevertheless extremel\' restless. After
allowing one to approach almost within striking
distance, it suddenl}' darts off, usually to return almost
directl}' and probabl}- to the \er}- identical twig it has
just left, and this manteuxre it may repeat a large
number of times. Patience, howe\'er, usuall}- finds the
insect a prisoner in the end. Unlike most Dragonflies,
L. dcprcssa seems to pass a great deal of its time away
from the water, and possibh' in consequence escapes
•observation to some extent, for tliough there is little
doubt that the insect is a common one, \-et it is seldom
that an observer sees \ery man\- examples during the
season.

Migration.

Dr. Hagen mentions a large swarm of these Dragon-
flies which passed over Konigsburg in June, 1852, and
sa}-s that the\- formed a compact band, 60ft. \\-ide and
about I oft. deep, and that moving with the speed of a
horse at an eas}- trot the\' occupied from nine in the
morning till e\'ening in passage, and e\'en then the rear
of the column rested in Konigsburg till the morning,
when they followed their predecessors. The Abb;'
("happe, who went to .Siberia, in 1761 to observe the
transit of \"enus, records that whilst at Tobolsk a swarm

io6 British Dragonflics.

of Dragonflies (taken to be of this species) passed over
the place, and he estimated that it consisted of a cokimn
five leagues long and five hundred ells broad.

Distribution.

De Selys sa}'S that this Dragonfly is found in all
three parts of the British Isles — " Elle se trouve dans les
trois parties des iles Britanniques " ; ^ but I have no
records for it in Scotland or Ireland, nor in England
north of Chester. Perhaps this paucity of recorded
localities is due to the fact that the insect is looked
upon as common, and therefore to make known its
occurrence is unnecessary. The following are all the
localities that I have at present been able to obtain :

CJicshirc : Chester District (J. Arkle). CaruarvonsJiire :
Near Abersoch (J. Arkle). N. Wales: Plentiful at pools
on coast (J. Arkle). Worcestershire : Worcester (J. E.
Fletcher) ; Trench Woods (R. C. Bradley). Warivick-
shire : Earlswood (A. D. Imms). Gloucestershire : Cots-
wolds TR. C. Bradlev). Hampshire: New Eorest
(W. J. L.) ; Pamber, near Basingstoke (A. H. Hamm).
DevonsJiire : Eynmouth (C. A. Briggs). Coniivall : Land's
End (xA. Ficklin). CaiiibridgesJiire : Littleport fC. A.
Briggs). Essex: Near Epping (H. Doubleda\-); Wanstead
Park (F. A. Walker) ; Maldon (E. A. Fitch; ; Colchester
(W. M. Harwood). Berkshire: Reading (J. \i. Tarbat).
Middlesex : Northwood, Kingsbur}', Cricklewood, and
Dudden Hill (F. A. Walker) ; Burnt Ash Lane (R.
McLachlan); Perivale (G. Nicholson); Belmont and
Canons Wood Park (¥. A. Walker). Ke/it : Deal and

* " Revue des Odonates," p. 8.

Plate V

5 A

Libellula quadrimaculata

(11. a. bi/i).
I, 2, 3, from Surrey Specimens; 4, Scotch.

Lib ell u la. 107

Dover District (C. G. Hall) ; Folkestone CG. T. Porritt),
Si/rny : Thames Ditton, Esher, Oxshott, Cla\-gatc, Send,
and Longcross (\\ . J. L.j ; Ockham Common and Book-
ham (C. A. Briggsj ; Ranmore Common (H. J. Turner) ;
Richmond Park and Horsley (W. J. xAshdown). Sussex:
Hailsham (G. T. Porritt) ; common in the woods and
lanes in East Sussex (G. T. Porritt).

8. — Libellula quadrimaculata, Linn.

(Plate V.)

Synonymy.

Libellula quadriiiiaeulata, Linn. S}'st. Nat. i. 543, n. I
(1758); Linn. P'aun. Suec. 371 (1761); Charp. Lib. Eur.
60, t. 3 ('1840); Sel}'s Mon. Lib. Eur. 32 (1840); Evans
Brit. Lib. 25, pi. 17, f. I (1845); Selys Rev. Odon. 7 (1850J;
Hag. Ent. Ann. 40 '1857) ; Packard Amer. Xat. i. 310,
t. 9, f. 2 (1867); McLach. Cat. Brit. Xeur. 12 T870).
Lepteti-Hiii qitadrimaeiilatiiiii, Kirb\" S}"n. Cat. Xeur. Odon.
27 (1890). Lib. qiiadripuiiitata, P^abr. Spec. Lis. i. 520,
n. 4 (1781 '. Lib. luaciilata, Harr. Expos. Eng. Lis.
155, t. 46, f. I (1782). Lib. pncuiibila, Xewm. Ent.
Mag. 420 (var.) ^1833); Steph. Llustr. Brit. Ent. Aland,
vi. 92 (1836); Evans Brit. Lib. 26, pi. 17, f. 2 {'1845).
Lib. ternaria, Sa\- Journ. Acad. Phil. \iii., 21, n. 7 1839).

Linnaeus' description.

L. alls posticis basi omnibusque medio antico macula
nigricante (C. Linnaeus, " S\-stema Xatura'," i. 543, n. i,

io8 British Dragouflic.

1758). . . . DesCR. Tliorax crassus maculis duabus
flavis, ])raeter anticam distinctis nigris lineis, a tergo
hirsutis. Abdomen attenuatum ex lato principio. Alee
albae, versus basin luteae, sed iiifcriorcs infra luteum
colorem nigrre. Abdominis latera et dorsum flavescentia ;
Cauda duabus appendiculis teretibus utrinque attenuatis.
Nota essentialis, qua ha:;c species ab omnibus distingui-
tur, constitit in puncto marginali, quod ut in reliquis
versus extremitates nigrum est, sed praster hoc punctum,
fusca s. nigra alia macula ad marginem anteriorem,
in medio aL-e singular ; adeoque puncta quasi duo
marginalia in omni ala. Ocnli postice subtus linea
flava. (C. Linnaeus, " Fauna Suecica," p. 371, 1761.)

Size.

Length of Male, 39mm. to 47mm. ; expanse of wings,
67mm. to 74nim. Length of Female, 41mm. to 47mm.;
expanse of wings, 70mm. to 80mm.

Male Imago.

Head brown ; face whitish-}-ellow, middle of labium
and edge of labrum black ; e\'es brownish. Tliorax
brown, with two broad }'eIlow, irregular lateral bands
bounded with black ; hair}- dorsal projections, )-ellowish.
Lco-s black. ]Vins[s hwaline, tinged with \-ellow towards
the base ; between the base and the anal angle of the
hind-wings a triangular dark brown j^atch \\ith }-ellow
nervurcs ; at the node of all the wings a black spot,
from which the insect obtains its specific name ; in
general four rows of post-trigonal cells ; about seventeen
ante-cubital ncrvures on fore-wings, twehe on hind-wings,
about twelve post-cubitals. Pterostigma black, rather
narrow, length 4mm. xlceessory menibraue rather small.

Lib dill la. 109

white. Abdomen hain', rather elongate, tapering- pos-
teriorly, bright brown ; first segment black, 2 to 5
with posterior margin black, 6 mostly black, 7 to 10
black ; narrow lateral \'ellow spots on segments 3 to 8,
on the last two ver\- small. Anal appendages black ;
superior long, round ; inferior about half the length of
superior, triangular, slightly bifid at the tip.

Female Imago.

Closeh' resembling male, but abdomen is shorter and
broader ; \-ellow lateral spots larger, and extending to
the ninth segment ; elexcnth segment brownish. ^Inal
appendages black, fairl}- long, spindle-shaped.

Immature Colouring.

When newly disclosed, the insect is of a pale, ding)'
)-ellow colour, but in about twent}"-four hours the
mature tints are assumed.

Variation.

Z. quadrimaeiilata is perhaps the most variable of
British Dragonflies. i'l ) In the first place there is a
wide range in size. {1) In what must, from Linnaeus'
description, be looked upon as the t\'pe, there is a
saffron tinge at the base of the wings. This, especially
in South of England specimens, is often much developed
in size and intensity, till it ma\' extend as a broad
band almost the whole length of the wings from base
to tip, giving a \"er}' fine appearance to the insect
(Plate V). (3) Less often in the neighbourhood of the
pterostigma, and sometimes also of the nodal spots,
there is a more or less extended blackish-brown suffusion,

I lO British Dragonfiies.

producing the striking form named b\- Newman,
prccjiuhila. Usually this form of variation is accom-
panied by a saffron suffusion also, in which case the
colouring of the wings is very rich and beautiful. It is
seldom that specimens are taken in the South of
England that are altogether free from indications of the
last two forms of variation (Plate V). (4) It is said
that occasionally the nodal spots are absent, but such
an instance has not come under the author's notice.
Such a variety might be confused with L. dcprcssa (male)
■or L. fiilva (male) ; but the former possesses a dark
patch at the base of the fore-wings, and the latter two
dark lines, while L. qiiadriiuaciilata has neither.

Oviposition.

Poised upon the wing, the female drops her eggs
.apparent!}' cpiite aimlessly, into the water.

Colour white, with a pale }'cllowish tinge ; thc}^
become darker — }'ellowish-brown — after being in water
for a short time. Contents, granulated. Shape, nearly
elliptical, but slightly oval, with a little pedicel at one
end, usually, if not always, the smaller end. Size, about
|mm. in length, perhaps a little under ; rather less than
•imm. in width. The specimens described were taken
from the body of a dead female, which contained a
large number. The)^ closely resemble those of L. deprcssa,
but are apparently a little smaller and less pear-shaped.

Nymph.

Body sepia-tinted, hair}-, broad, and sturdy ; somewhat
arched dorsally ; length, including appendages, 26mm. ,

Li bell II la.

Ill

greatest breadth, 8mm. Head of moderate size, roughly-
pentagonal, transverse width about 6mm. ; rather long
from front to back, owing to the extent of mask pro-
truding (Fig. 26). Antcniur seven-jointed, the basal two
being short and swollen, the rest slender ; of these
joints 4 and 5 are short, and 7 is pointed. Mask
reaching to between the insertion of the fore- and mid-
legs, narrow at hinge, deeply spoon-shaped, and covering
the face ; middle lobe and the two })al{3i meeting at a

Fig. 26. — Head of Xvmph of Libellula quadrimaculata.

(Much magnified ; hairs omitted.)

point in the front of the head ; palpi triangular, serrated
where they approach in the mid-line, and hairy along
the outer margin ; two half circles of hairs on the body
of the mask on the upper surface behind the insertion
of the palpi ; front border of mask produced in a rather
obtuse angle. Eyes at the lateral corners of head small,
rounded, with a prolongation almost perpendicularly
backwards towards the mid-line of the head. Top of
licad convex. Vertex somewhat raised. Oeeiput rather
narrow in centre, nearh" rectangular, hair}- ; hind margin

112 British Dragoiijiics.

nearly straight. Prothorax rather broad in centre ; hind
margin formed b\- a hair\-, raised rim. Mcso-thoracic
spiracles exposed, dark. Thorax ahnost uniform in
colour. ]]^ijig-cases about 7mm. long. Lt\i^'s of moderate
length, stout, rather widely separated at their insertion,
hair}', especially the tibia; ; distal joint of tarsi dark ;
length of fore-legs 12mm., mid- 14mm., hind- 19mm.
Abdomoi of a nearly uniform brown tint above, yel-
lowish-white below ; segments fairly equal, except 10,
which is very small ; hind margin of 9 }iot truncated
but sloping off gradually to 10 ; very short lateral
spines on segments 8 and 9 ; sharp, curved, mid-dorsal
spines pointing backwards on segments 4 to 8. Anal
appendages rather short, sharp-pointed, hairy ; upper
and lower acutely triangular, aboitt equal ; laterals
shorter and rounder. The n}'mph of L. qiiadriinacithxta
bears a strong resemblance to that of L. dcprcssa ; it
is, however, less hairy ; the legs are perhaps a little
more slender ; the mid-dorsal tubercles of the latter
species are replaced b}- spines, and there are some
differences in the head, especially in the direction of
the eyes. [From Surrey specimens.]

Emergence of Imago.

The emergence here described was watched on
June I, 1898. At 12.52 the insect had just commenced
to appear, the head and thorax were out, but not the
legs ; by 12.54 the fore-legs were out, and the body
was hanging back, head downwards; at 12.55 the mid-
legs were out ; and b}- 1.2 the hind ones had followed.
In this apparcntl}' uncomfortable position now followed
a length}' rest, during which the legs were occasionally^

Libcllnla. 113

pressed close to the bod\-, while a strong shudder passed
through it. The w ings at the basal part of the costal
region had begun to swell out considerabh' before
the resting period was over. At 1.54, the insect,
without any warning, suddenly swung itself upwards,
took hold of the nymph-case, and drew out the rest of
its abdomen. Neither wings nor abdomen at first
expanded very rapidi}-, and at this period of the
expansion of the wings there was not much movement,
except that the insect shook itself a little backwards
and forwards. At 2.12 the wings were the length of
the bod\" (which had not }-et increased much in length),
and the\- now seemed to be growing much faster.
The insect was also swaying itself from back to front
continuous!}-, and, as the wings were approaching full
size, more rapidly and strcjngiy. At 2.17 the wings
were nearl}- or quite 4-in. longer than the bod\'. At
times the swa\'ing ceased, while the end of the
abdomen moved forward ; then it contracted, and it
ajjpearecl that something was being forced into the
wings, but the Dragonfly did not wal4< forward along
its support. At 2.26, though a little wrinkled along
the hind margin, the wings, which were yellowish-
white and opaque, appeared to be nearly of full length,
and reached about ^in. beyond the extremity of the
abdomen, which had thus far not much increased in
length. At 2.35, though still opaciue, the wings seemed
to be full)- dexeloped and extended nearly lin. be}-ond
the tip of the bod\'. Swa\-ings of the abdomen still
occurred at times, but the\- appeared to be nearly
over. The wings were still held as in the resting
position of the Agrionidcc, with their upper surfaces

I

1 1 4 British Dragiviflics.

towards one another, but in the evening they were
spread out, and the spots and pterostigma were
■dark ; the. bod)-, too, had reached its full length,
and the segments at the tip had assumed their
dark colour. By the following evening, though the
wings were still glossy, the insect had practicall}-
assumed its mature colouring. This nymph, which
produced a female, was probably one of two that
had been waiting at the surface of the water for more
than a day beforehand. Another, a male, emerged on
June 2.

Date.

In the forward spring of 1894 this Dragonfl)- was
taken on Esher Common as early as April 25, but in
normal years it does not appear till the beginning of
May. It continues on the wing till the end of July or
beginning of August, my latest capture ha\ing been
made on the 7th of the latter month, though in 1895,
in Surrey, I tried to catch a Dragonfly, which appeared
to belong to this species, as late as September 9.

Habits.

Libcllula quadriinaciilata seems to have a liking for
boggy pools, and perhaps prefers those situated in fir-
woods. In general its flight is rapid, though of short
duration ; but as it seems to be very watchful when
settled, the insect is not an easy one to capture. It
may sometimes be taken at rest late in the afternoon
(for it retires early) on the heather, where it ma}-
possibly be betrayed by its wings, though perhaps not
often in such a striking manner as once fell under the

Li be II u la. 1 1 5

observation of Mr. Arkle, in Delamerc Forest, who, in
the Entomologist, p. 35, 1898, says: "There the\-
were at var\-in;^" intervals, with their wings spread out
and ghstening, for all the world like distant windows in
the setting sun. Far awa\' for a long distance on the
heath I could easilx' make them out."

Migration.

As a wanderer this Dragonfl}' is well known, and to
this habit is due perhaps the fact that it circles the
globe in the cooler zones of the Northern Hemisphere.
Man}- hAU'opean migrations ha\e been recorded.

A tremendous swarm passed over IMalmi"), in Sweden,
in June, 1883;^ a large one was observed off the
Essex coast in June, 1888 ; t while a smaller one
visited Doxer in June, 1889. J The account of the
first-mentioned flight, as recorded in A\rt//n\ is here
reproduced: "On Sunda}-, June 24, we had an
extraordinary flight of the Trollslauda {Libdlnla

quadriinaculata, Linn., a brown Uragonfl)-, i^in.

long and 3in. from tip to tip of the wings. Thc}- passed
o\'er or through the town and neighbourhood for about
half an hour in the afternoon. The next da}', about one
o'clock, the}' reappeared for more than an hour ; but on
Tuesda}', the 26th, at 7.30 a.m., the}^ again began in
millions, and notwithstanding the wind had shifted to
the South during the night, they held the same course
from North-West by West, heading South-East bv' East.
The streets, shipping, and e\-er}' place were full of

••* X<itiirc, July 19th, 18S3. Vol. xxviii., p. 271. f J- Cordeaux. E. ^l. M.,
1888, p. 93. + C. G. Hall in E. M. M., 1889, p. 324.

I 2

1 1 6 British DragojiJIies.

them. They did not fl\' very high, and seemed to avoid
going into open doors and windows. Some hundred.s
or so ahghted on the goosebcrr\' bushes, apple, and pear
trees in the garden, but never touched the fruit. [An
ahnost unnecessary observation, seeing that all Dragon-
flies are animal feeders !] I obscrxcd one sitting on
the dead tip of an apple-twig, and I pushed it off with
my stick thirteen times, the insect returning each time

after flying away about fi\e or six }'ards The

flight ended that night about 8 p.m., having been
incessant for more than twelve hours. On the 27th
they appeared again about noon, fl}'ing the same course,
but in much reduced forces. Each day since I have

seen a few, but very few The papers sa)' the}^

were observed in all Southern and Central Sweden, and
in many places in Denmark, and they swarmed about
the ships in the Sound. With their disappearance came
the hot weather." One is lost in conjecture as to the
position of the sheets of water in which so large a
number of insects could ha\e been nurtured, and as
to the host of small creatures, man}' times as numerous
as themselves, that they must have destroyed in reaching
maturity.

In 1888, Mr. S. Pender, master of the " Swin Middle"
Light-vessel, off the Esse.x coast, reported that on June
23, from 6 to 8 p.m., a flcjck of Dragonflies, which
proved to be L. qiiaiiriiiiaculata, came on board and
rested on the ropes and even on the cal)le the \-essel
was moored with, from the bows down close to the
water's edge. The wind was \\. hy S., and the weather
fair and clear. ... In 18S9, Mr. If. Gatke, writing
from Heligoland, said that on Ma\' 2 1 and 22, Lihcllnla

Libel ill 1(1. I 17

qnadripiiiictata swarmed there b\' the million and con-
tinued to the 26th, when the wind became northerl}-,
and next morning' not a single one was to be seen.*
. . . On June 6 in the same }'ear, Mr. Hall, of
Dover, re|)orted a flight of some hundreds of Dragon-
flies of this species ( possibi)' belonging to the flight
last mentioned ;, which took place at Do\-er. They were
fl\-ing round the middle of the Admiralt\' Pier, and were
not obserxed in the town. Mr. Hall states that he had
witnessed extraordinary flights of this species in I-^rance.
.similar to the swarms obser\'ed at Alalmo, in 18S3, but
that the one at Do\-er was small. The weather was
dull and oppressively hot, with a slight wind from the
N.h^, and the Dragonflies a|)peared to have come up
with the storm-clouds in a south-westerl\- direction.
Hundreds were seen the next da\-, notwithstanding a
storm on the evening of the 6th, and a few on the 8th.
Some were war. pi\cunbila, and in one the sub-costal
\'eins between the base and the cubital spot, were
slighth' tinged with orange. Such are instances of
migrations that ha\e been recorded in the English
magazines. It is reported that a great migration occurs
almost ex'er}- }'ear from north to south in the Charente
InttM'iciu'e in France.

Distribution,

Though considered a local insect, LibcUiila qiiadri-
iitaciilata is well distributed thrcjughout the British Isles,
and where it occurs is generalh' common. Localities are :
Iiivci-iicss-shirc : Strathgiass, Glencannich, and Insh

* Entom., 1880, p. i8q.

1 1 8 British Dragonflics.

(J. J. F. X. King). ArgyllsJiire : Tobermory and Ledaig'
(J. J. F. X. King). Perthshire: Rannoch (J. J. F. X.
King). Laiiarlcshire : Glen Lockay (K. J. Morton).
Westmoreland : Loughrigg Fell (J. J. F. X. King).
LaueasJiire : Xorth (J. Arklej. Yorksliire : Thorne
Moor (G. T. Porritt). Cheshire : Delanierc Forest
(J. Arkle). ]]^arii.'ie/cshire ; I^^arlswood and Hockley
Heath (A. D. Immsj. WoreestcrsJiire : Worcester (J. F.
Fletcher). North- Wales: (J. Arkle;. Ccernarvonshire :
(J. Arkle). Mo)unoiitJisJiire : Abergavenn}- (R. C. Bradle}').
Connvall : Land's End (A. Ficklin). Devonshire : L\'n-
mouth (C. A. Briggs). Dorsetshire : Studland {]. E.
Tarbat). Hampshire : Lyndhurst ( R. McLachlan) ;
Brockenhurst (W. J. L.). Berlcshii-e : Dry Sandford
(M. Burr); Reading (J. E. Tarbat); Bulmershe Park
(A. H. Hamm). Middlesex: Burnt Ash Lane (R.
McLachlan). Snrrey : Esher Common, Byfleet, Ockham
Common, Chobham Common (W. J. L.) ; Weybridge
(J. E. Tarbat). Snssex : East (G. T. Porritt); Hailsham
(G. T. Porritt) ; near Liphook (W. J. L.). Kent: Kings-
down (C. G. Hall) ; Do\-er (G. T. Porritt). Essex :
Epping (H. Doubleday) ; Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea
(W. H. Harwood). CanibridgesJiire : Knarr P^en (K. J.
Morton) ; Wicken P^n (\\\ J. Ashdown). Xorfolk :
Broads, near Lowestoft (J. Brest). Ulster: Glasslough,
Co. Monaghan (K. J. Mortonj ; Churchill and Armagh
{]. J. F. X. King). Leinster : T\v\- Laogh (J. J. F. X.
King). Munster : Skibbereen, Co. Cork (J. J. W'oolfe) ;
Ross Castle (J. J. Y. X. King). Connaiight : Carrowbeg
River and Mackree Castle (J. J. Y. X. King). Guernsey :
S. Peter Port PLirbour (W. A. Luff).

Plate VI.

Libelliila fiilva

(nat. size).

\y

-<m^

Orihetrum cxnilescens

(nat. size).

Libel I Ilia. 119

9. Libellula fulva, ^lull.

(Plate VI.)

Synonymy.

Lib. fiilva. Mull. Faun. Ins. Fridr. 62. n. 544 (1764) ;
Selys Rev. Odon. 9 (1850); HaL,^ Fnt. Ann. 41 (1857);
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 12 (1870). Lcptctnnii fulviiin,
Kirby .S}'n. Cat. Xeur. Odon. 26 (1890). Lib.
fridricJischdcnsis, ^liill. Faun. In.s. Fridr. 62, n.
549 ( 1764). Lib conspnrcata, Fabr. Fnt. Syst. (Suppl.)
283 (1798); Steph lUustr. Brit. Fnt., ?iland. vi. 91
(1836); Sely.s Mon. Lib. Fur. 35 (1840J ; Charp. Lib.
Eur. 59, t. 2 (1840); F\ans Brit. Lib. 25, pi. 16, f. 3
(1845J. Lib. fitgax\ Harr. F.xpos. luig. Ins., 156, t. 46, f. 2,
(1782). Lib. qitadrifasciata, Don. Brit. Ins. xii., t. 425
(1807). Lib. biinaculata, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent.,
Mand. vi. 92 (1836); Evans, Brit. Lib. 26 (1845).

Miiller's description.

Libellula fulva, alis basi fulvescentibus macula
marginali nisj^ra : thorace abdomineque fuho. (Miiller,
"Fauna Insectoruni Fridrichsdalina," p. 62, n. 544, 1764.)

Size.

Length of Male, 44mni. ; expanse of wings, 74miTi.
Length of Female, 45mm. ; expanse of A\ings, 75mm.

Male Imago.

Head very dark. Eyes ashy-blue. Thoj-ax hair\', dark

brown in ver\' adult specimens, but lighter in younger

ones. Legs black, except femora, which are brown

120 British Dragonjiics.

Wings hyaline, with the extreme tip sometimes sh'ghth'
clouded, one (or twoj dark brown lines at the base of
the fore-wings, and a similar line and a triangular spot
at the base of the hind ones ; on these spots the
nervures are }'ellowish ; three rows of post-trigonal
cells; ante-cubital ner\ures about 12, j^ost-cubital about
I I. Pterostigma nearl}' black, rather narrow, about 3mm.
in length. Accessory r/cuibrnnc small, rather dark.
Abdomen, sides nearh- parallel in segments 2 to 6, the
last four tapering ; a distinct dorsal keel ; colour light
blue, except segments i and 2, which are dark, and
a black mid-dorsal line, which, starting on segment 7,
spreads out posteriori}- till it occupies nearl}' the whole
of segment 10 ; each of the blue segments has two
tiny transverse black streaks, one on each side of the
mid-dorsal line in the posterior part of the segment.
Anal appendages as long as the ninth segment, black ;
upper cylindrical, pointed ; lower triangular, a little
shorter, turned U]:) at the tip.

Female Imago.

In the female the abdomen is tawn}-, with the black
mid-dorsal markings on more of the segments than in
the adult male. The wings are tipped with dark brown.
The head and thorax are lighter than in the mature
male, and of a yellowish-brown colour, like that of the
abdomen.

Immature Colouring.

Apparent!}' the male of this species is ver}- slow in
assuming its cerulean tint ; till then it \-cr}- closel}-
resembles the female, which does not change nuich in

Li bell II la. 1 21

colour as it becomes adult. The male figured in
Charpentier's " Libellulin;e rAiropcU;^;," t. 2, is immature.

Variation.

It was once considered that the suffusion at the tip
of the wings was a mark of variation ; but though this
brown patch certainlx" \-aries somewhat in size it must
be looked upcjn as a sexual distinction, it being alwax's,
or nearh' alwa_\-s, present in the female, and absent, or
but \er}- slightl}- indicated, in the male. As in L. qiiadri-
i/iac/i/nta, the wings are sometimes suffused to a greater
■or less extent with a saffron tint, especiall\- near the
costal margin.

Time.

Certainl}' from June to August, but whether earlier
than June is not clear.

Distribution.

Idiough seldom captured, this species is in all
probabilit}' generalh- distributed, but it is rare in the
South of England. That it ma)- often escape notice
is easil\- understood, for imless a near view were
obtained it would with difficult)- be distinguished
from L. (/r/'/rsstr, Orthctniin caiici'llatinn, and possibl)-
O. cccrulcsccus, and as its capture is not an eas)- matter,
no doubt its resemblance to these insects often does
proxe its safeguard. Recorded captures ma)- almost be
counted on one's fingers. The\- are : Kent : A female
at Kingsdown, near Deal, in 1881 : C. G. Hall ; a
rather worn adult male near Sandwich, on August 22,
-1 898 i \\\ J. L.I. Suffolk: A single specimen at

122 British Dragoiiflics.

Beccles, in the marshes, in 1892 fC. Morley). Essex:
A single specimen at Colchester fW. H. Harwood)
Hampshire : An adult male near Ringwood, not far
from the Avon, just outside the Xew Forest, 1897
(K. J. Morton). Yorkshire : Two females at Askern, one
of which passed into the possession of Mr. G. T. Porritt,
June, 1888 (S. L. Mosley). Doubleday said that it was
rare in the neighbourhood of I^^pping, but was occasionally
found flying over a large pond in Ongar Park woods.
In addition, Bath mentions several localities, but does
not enter into particulars with regard to them — Bur-
wash Fen and Wdiittlesea Mere in Cambridgeshire ;
Sprawston, near Norwich, in Norfolk ; Marshes near
Bermondsey ; Parley Heath in Hampshire and Dorset ;
Glan\illes Wootton in Dorset ; Xewham in l^edford-
shire ; Deptford in Kent ; and Bishop's Auckland (?)
in Durham.

10. Orthetrum caerulescens, Fabr.

(Plate VI.)

Synonymy.

Lihelliila etcnileseens, P'abr. Fnt. S)'st. Suppl. 285 (1798) ;
Steph. Illustr. Brit. Fnt. Mand. vi. 93 M836); Charp. Lib.
Fur. 67, t. 6 (1840;; h^-ans Brit. Lib. 2(), pi. iS, f 2,3
(1845); Sel\'S Rev. Odon. 22 (1850); Hagcn Fnt. .\nn.
42 ri857). Ortlietriiiii eccnileseeiis McLach. Cat. Brit.
Ncur. 13 (187O; ; Kirb}' S\m. Cat. Neur. Odon. 36 ,1890).
Lib. vulgcxta. Scop. ICnt. Carn. 261, n. 680 (1763). Lib.
bigiittata, Don. Brit. Ins. xiii., t 449 (1808). Lib. douovainti.

OrtJictnnn. 123

Leach Edinb. Enc. ix. 136 1815. Lib. opaliiia, C'harp.
Hor. Ent. 45 : 1825;. Lib. olyuipia, Eonsc. Ann. Soc. Ent.
Erance, \i. 139, t. 6, f. 1-2 11837); Seh's Mon. Lib. ICur.
40 (1S40) ; Ramb. Ins. Nevr. 67 (1842). Lib. dnbia, Ranib.
Ins. Xcvr. Gj (1842).

Fabricius' description.

L. alis li}-alinis : stig'matc mar!j;inali fusco, corpore

c?erule.scente Media. Os naxescens fronte

nigricante. Corpus civrulescens, immaculatum. Al;e basi
imniaculata.'. Eabricius, " Entomoloi^'ia Systematica,"
Supplement, p. 285, 1798).

Size.

Len!7th of Alale, 41mm. t(j 43'5mm. ; expanse of winijs.
5gmm. to 02'5mm. Len;j;'th of Eemale, 4onHn. to 42mm. ;
expanse of uins^s, yj"^ to ()2mm.

Male Imag-o.

Head and face yellowish-brown, darker on the vertex.
Eyes dark ash}--blue, in contact but a short distance.
Thorax \ery dark brown, slighth' powdered with blue
behind ; two conspicuous pale \-ello\\ish-blue dorsal lines,
three broad, oblique, lateral, yellow ones; prominences
between wings }'ellow. Legs stout, ver\- dark. \Vi)igs
hwaline, costal ner\ure \-ellow, about tweh'c ante-cubital
nerxaircs, about ten post-cubitals. Pterostigiiia orange,
outlined \\ith a strong black nerxure, rather oxer 3mm.
long. Aeeessory i/ieinbraue small, narrow, whitish.
Abdoinen narrow, somewhat flattened, but witli a mid-
dorsal keel, poxx'dered with blue, two tin\- dorsal black
transx'erse lines on segments 3 to 8 in the posterior

I 24 BritisJi Dragoi/Jlies.

part of the segment. Anal appcndag-cs black ; upper
ones CN'linclrical, pointed, as long as the last segment
but one ; lower triangular, turned up at the tip.

Female Imago.

Head and thorax much the same as the male but
lighter, and cjuite without blue powdering. Eyes brown.
Legs brown. ]Vi)igs suffused with saffron towards the
costal margin. Abdomen )-ellowish-brown fin \er\' old
specimens dark brown j, rounder than in male, dorsal keel
and margins of segments dark brown, trans\erse
posterior lines meet in this sex and broaden, forming a
black mid-dorsal transverse streak, through which the
keel passes. Anal a/>/>endages c}'lindrical, pointed, about
as long as the tenth segment, pale brown. ]^ulvar
scale notched at the tip, the points swollen. Sides of
eighth and ninth segments forming a kind of wxwg below.

Immature Colour.

When immature, the male closclx' resembles the female
in tint. The cerulean bloom appears after a time on
the abdomen, and usuall}' spreads inore or less o\-er
the thora.x, the parts not blue becoming darker. The
surface of the immature abdomen is gioss)-.

Variation.

In the British Isles this insect does not seem to var\-
ver}' much — not e\-en in size. The dark coloin- of the
abdomen of the female and of the wings of both sexes,
observed late in the season, are simpl}- due to age. On
the Continent blue-bodied females and males with dark
pterostigmata ha\e been noticed, these changes also
haxintr been caused no doubt b\- a""e.

OrtJictnim. 125

Egg-
Length about half a milHmctrc ; width a Httic over a
quarter of a milhmetre ; shape more or less elliptical,
with a small pedicel at one end ; contents granular ;
colour \-ello\vish-\vhite (Fig. 4, No. lOj. The description
and figure were taken from a female caught in the New
Forest, August, 1897. The}' were brought home in
spirit, and therefore were in most cases much shrivelled.

Date.

0. ticnih'sccns is a mid-summer species. My earliest
record for its a[)i)earance is June 4, and the latest
communicated in September. It would, therefore, be at
its best in late June and Jul\'.

Habits.

Bogg}- ground seems to be the favourite haunt of this
species. Though swift, its flight is not of long dura-
tion. The insect appears and is otT again like a flash
of lightning, making its capture b\- no means an easy
matter. It will entice its pursuer for a long distance,
and often over treacherous ground, settling or hoxering
for a time, but fl\-ing off continually so as to keep well
out of the reach of the net ; and should it perchance
stay too long on the ground, so well does it harmonise
with its usual siu'roundings, that its would-be captor
obtains ver\' little assistance from the circumstance.

Distribution. ^<^'^^ ^f^H-^^HUM. B^$^
The records I have been able to obtain of this species
do not appear to be representatixe. The most northerly

126 British Dragonfiics.

I ha\c is in Cheshire, so that this Dragonfly would

seem to be absent from Scotland and the north of

England. Recorded localities are : CJicsJiirc : Parkgate

and Bidston (J, Arkle). Mcrioiicthsliirc : near Maentwrog

(J. Arkle) ; Tan-}--b\vlch and Barmouth TA. D. Imms).

Cambridgeshire: Wicken and Chippenham Fen (G. T.

Porritt). Oxfordshire: Cowley (A. H. Hamm). Bcrk-

sJiire : Reading (A. H. Hamm). Cornwall: Land's

lind (A. Ficklin) ; Bude (C. A. Briggs). Devonshire:

Bo\e\' Tracev uA. H. Hamm . Dorsetshire : Studland . ,

(J. \i. Tarbat). Hampshii^e : Aew rorest, common

(W. J. L.). Surrey : Weybridge (J. F. Stephens, 1 842)T^-)X ^ccA-

Bisley (A. P^icklin, jun.). Kent: Chattenden (H. J.

Turner). Guernsey : Grande Mare (W. A. Luff). Munstcr :

Dinish and Gap of Dunloe (J. J. Y. X. King). Bath

mentions — near Godalming ; Charmouth ; Portland ;

Empole ; Parley Heath ; Emborne ; Gamlingay Bog,

Lsle of Man ; Blackgang Chine, Isle of Wight ; near

Bodmin ; P^almouth (" Handbook," p. 39).

11. Orthetrum cancellatum.

(Plate VH.)

Synonymy.

Libellula eaneellata, Linn. S\-st. Nat. i. 544, n. 7

(1758); r^aun. Suec. ^y^^, n. 1465 (1761) ; Don. Brit.

Ins. xiv. 472 (1810); Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand.

vi. 93 (1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 26, pi. 17, f. 3,

Plate VII.

o

S: 'S

S 1

Orthctnmi. 1 27

pi. 18, f. I (1845) ; Charp. Lib. Eur. 65, pi. 5
(1840.1; Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. i"] (18401; Seh's,
Rev. Oclon. 12 (1850); Hai;-, Ent. Ann. 41
(1857). Oi-thctniut cauailatiiin, AIcLach. Cat. Brit.
Neur. 13 (1870); Kirby S\-n. Cat. Neur. Oclon. 38
(1890). Lib. fruinciiti, Miill. Eaun. Eridr. (:)2, n. 551
(1764;. Lib. liucolata, Charp. Hor. Ent. 44 (1825;.

Linnaeus' description.

L. alis basi immaculatis, abdomine dorso lateribusque
intcrruptc lutcis. ( C. LiniKcus, " Systema Natur;v," i. 544,
n. 7, 1758.; . . . . Dksc'K. Eacie.s pallida, fronte
nigra. Oculi posticc linea flava nigro interrupta. Thorax
anticc tcstaccus lineis duabus nigris et lateribus maculi.s
duabus fla\'is. Abdomen dorso flavurn utrinque linei.s
duabus nigris longitudinalibus et segmentorum marginibus
nigris. (C. Linnaeus, " Eauna Suecica," p. ^f}^, n. 1465,
1761).

Size.

Length of Male, 48'5mm. to 52'5mm. ; expanse of
wings, 76mm. to 83mm. Length of Eemale, 49mni. ;
expanse of wings, 77mm.

Male Imago.

LLcad dark, face paler, eyes blue. Thora.x \'ello\vish-
brown, with a lateral black line on each side of meso-
notum ; meso- and meta-pleura yellowish, separated
by a black line. Lcgx black, with the base of the
femora brown. Wings large, h\^aline, about fourteen
ante-cubital ner\'ures and nine post -cubital. Ptcrostigma
narrow, 2' 5mm. long on fore-wings, 3mm. on hind-
wings, black. Accessory mcnibrauc rather long, narrow,

128 British Dragoiiflics.

grey. Abdomen rather long", flattened behind the third
segment, powdered with bhie except segments i, 2,
8, 9, lo, \\hich are bhick, and the 7th, which is
partly so ; there is a fine mid-dorsal black line as well
as . a pair of dorsal, transverse, tin_\' black streaks near
the posterior edge of the blue segments. Upper
anal appendages c\'lindrical, about 2'5mm. long, black ;
loNver one shorter, triangular, dark, turned up at tip.

Female Imago.

Face yellow. Thorax yellow, dorsal prominences and
markings edged \\'ith black Abdomen yellow, each
segment edged with black, two broad dorsal black lines
extending along its whole length. Anal appendages
short, black. Pterostigma narrow, 3mm. long, black.
Vulvar seale not prominent, with a deep rounded notch.
Borders of ninth segment winged below.

Immature Colouring.

Till the blue powdering appears, the male is exactly
like the female in colour.

Variation.

This species does not seem to be subject to much

variation. Bath mentions that the lateral black line of

the female is occasionally very broad.

Nymph.

In Science Gossip, Jul)', 1894, Mr. W. H. Nunney
gives a figure of the nymph, and sa\s that : " An old
writer, Muralclt, published in a now rare Latin work,
entitled ' Ephemeris Natura.^ Curiosorum,' a loose

Ortlictrnin. 129

s^encral description illustratccl b}' a rude eny;ra\-ing.
The colour is wholl\- cinereous ; the eyes are prominent
and of a clear bright green ; the antennae are short,
thick, and pilose ; on both sides of the head beneath
the e\-es are hairs ; and the mouth is also pilose. The
abdomen is broad, tapering towards the point, which is
pilose, and is hair\' at the sides. .Sexeral blackish
trans\-erse lines ornament the head, and the abdomen
is distinctl}- marked along the sides with blackish spots.
There are also some spots in front, and two lines on
the tarsi. The mask is two-thirds the length of the
head."

Date.

In 1896 a specimen was taken in Siu-rey, on May 17,
while the latest record for the species appears to be in
Jul}' ; but information is not sufficient for any definite
statement to be made with regard to the limits of its
period of flight.

Habits.

Besides fretiuenting marshy spots, this species seems
to ha\-e a liking for brick-holes, gra\el-pits, and such
localities. From its great resemblance on the wing in
appearance and habits to Libcllnla t/cprcssa, it maw
]Derha])s, be sometimes passed over for that insect.

Distribution.

McLachlan sa\-s* it is ])ossibl}- ccmfined to the
southern half of ICngland. but that it is often common
about brick-holes in the London district. The small

*E. -\[. .\[.. p. 253, 1.S84.

I 30 BrltisJi Dragojiflics.

number of instances and records that have come under
my notice are : Middlesex : Lee cla}-pits by l^urnt Ash
Lane (R. McLachlan). Surrey : Ockham Common (C. A.
Briggs) ; a brick-field at Merton (J. S. Brocklesby) ;
near a brick-field, New Maiden (W. J. L.) ; near
Byflect (F. A. Walker)."^ S/fsse.v : Near Liphook
(W. J. L.). On July 26, 1896, I for a long time
watched in Richmond Park, but could not capture
what, from the black appearance of the extremity of
its abdomen, appeared to be a male of this species.
Evans (1845), on Stephens' authoritx', sa\'s this species
is found in Kent. Batht gives as localities without
mentioning authorities : Croydon canal ; marshes near
Crayford and Dartford ; Horning and Fakenham in
Norfolk ; Whittlesea Mere ; Abbey Meadows, Kilburn ;
Peckham ; Oak of Honour Wood. ,

12. Somatochlora metallica, Lind.

(Plate VIII.)
Synonymy.

Libellula inetalliea, Lind. Mon. Lib. luir. 18 (1825);
Charp. Lib. Eur. 94, t. 15 (1840I ^lisclina iiietidlica,
Charp. Hor. Ent. 59 (1825). Cord/i/ia metalliea, Stcph.
Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 89 ( 1836J ; .Sel\'s Mon. Lib.
hLur. 64 (1840); (?) PLvans I^rit. Lib. 24, ])1. 15, f 1
(1845); Selys Rev. Odon. 69 (1850,); ILig. l^nt. Ann.
47 (1^57)- Epitlieca metallica, Selys J-5ull. Acad. Belg.

'^Identified hv descri|)tioii onlv. | •■ I I.mdlxiok," p. 40.

Plate VIII.

V /

Soinatochlora iiietallica

mat. size).

Somatoch/ora arctica

(uat. size).

Soiiiatoclilora. I ^ I

(2) xxxi. 288 1,1871;. Soinatocldoi-a i/ivtaliica, Kirby
Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 48 (1890J. LUk (cuea, Panz. Ins.
Deutschl. Heft. 88, t. 20 ('1805); [? ? iciica. Har. Expos.
Eni^. Ins. 92.. t. xxvii., f. 2 (1782)].

Vander Linden's description.

L. viridi-.'tnea, abdominis medio incrassato, appendi-
cibus analibus omnibus maris simplicibus, acuminatis ;
alis lutescentibus, macula mai'L;"inali lutea. . . . Mas.
Caput ;eneum, fascia frontali arcuata, labii superitjris
basi, inferiori toto, luteis. Oculi \irides, supra rufes-
centes. Thorax <eneus rufo-tomentosus. Abdomen
ieneum : secundi segmenti angulis posticis subtus late
productis : ejusdem margine jjostico, puncto utrinque, et
striga laterali, tertii autem macula utrinque laterali
baseos, luteis. Appendices anales acut.x- : superiores
tenues, basi ab invicem remota_', externe sinuata;,
longitudine duorum ultimorum segmcntorum abdominis :
inferior, brevior, crassior, triangularis. I'edes nigri,
femoribus anticis basi luteis. Al;u lutescentes. callis
nigris luteo maculatis, macula marginali lutea, mem-
branula accessoria albida, pijsticarum magna, ad
marginem internum cinerea. . . . l-''emina. Hujus
primum et secundum abdominis segmentum, margine
postico et laterali, punctoque utrinque luteis : c;etera
immaculata. Antepenultimum autem subtiis et postice
in appendiceal concavo-acuminatam, jjroductum. Appen-
dices anales duobus ultimis segmentis abdominis longiores
Caput, th(M-ax, al,X', pedes ut in mare. . . . Longit.
22-23 'ii"'- Kxtens. alar. 34 lin. P. L. V^'uider Linden,
" Monographia; Libellulinarum ]£ur(jp;earum Specimen,"
p. 18, 1825 .

K 2

132

British Dragonjiics.

Size.

Length of Male. 52-5mm. ; expanse of winos, 77mm.
Length of Female, 56mm. ; expanse of wings, 82mm.
[From a pair of continental specimens.]

Male Imag-o.

Head bronze-green, lower edge of frons and also the
rhinarium and labium \'ello\v. Eyes bronze-green.
Protlioi-ax bronze-green, marked with )-ellow. Thorax

a.

\ ^

Fig. 27. — Anal Appexijaoks of Malk of Somatochi.ora mktallica,

(Magnified.)
a.. Dorsal vitw. /'., Lateral view.

bronze-green, covered w ith russet down ; attachments of
wings and projections between them brownish-)-ellow.
Wings with slight .saffron tint ; ana! angle of hind
ones pointed. Pterostigma not quite 3min. long, dark
brown, paler when immature, between black ner\ures.
Accessor]' uieiiibraiic long and rather dark, but white at
base. Legs black. Abdoiiiot bronze-green, swollen at
second segment, contracted at third, then swelling out,
and asfain contracting somewhat towards the end ; on

Soinatochloni.

each of segments 2 and 3 are two small yellow s]jots
on the dorsal surface, and larger ones below ; the suture
between the same segments is also yellow. Anal
(ippdidagcs long, black ; the shape of the upper ones
w ill best be seen from Fig. 27 ; they are rounded
above, but have two projections below ; the lower is
triangular, and considerabh' .shorter than the upper ones.

Female Imago.

On the upper surface the e\-es haxe a chestnut
tint. ]]liigs tinged with saffron, especially in the
costal region ; anal angle of hind-wings rounded.
Ptcrostigma dark brown, between black nervures ; on
the hincl-wings it is rather longer than on the fore,
being 3mm. in length. Ahdoiiicn swollen at second
segment, afterwards contracted but little. Anal appen-
dages long and slender. l^ulvar scale as long as ninth
segment, pointed like a bird's lower beak and standing
out at right angles to the bod\-. In other respects
female resembles male.

Variation.

The wings var\' in the depth of the saffron tint,
which is usually but little in evidence in the male.
According to Charpentier the spots on segments 2
and 3 of the abdomen are not constant in size in
the female, and mav even be absent altoeether.

Length about ■5mm., width from about half to two-thirds
of length ; shape elliptical ; of a very pale yellowish
tint; contents in appearance granular; a rather long,
slender, transparent pedicel at one end, which appears

1 34 l^ritish Di-agojiflies.

tf) belong to a thin transparent outer la}'er. [Eggs
removed from outside the vulvar scale of a worn female
captured at Strathglass, while apparently ovipositing
(C. A. Briggs, /// ////. 13. vii. 99)].

Nymph.

Mr. L. Cabot describes the nymph of S. 11 ic tallica in
the following terms : " Length, 24mm. ; breadth, 9mm.
Body oblong, enlarged and truncate behind, about
naked ; head short, narrower than abdomen, half as
long as broad, slightl}* rounded in front, straight
behind ; sides j:)r()jecting ; conical eyes, slightl}'
prominent ; behind the e)-es an undulating transverse
crest, making on each side of vertex a light cur\"e, a
little elevated, with a comb of fine bristles ; forehead
about flat, vertex small, rounded, ocelli not indicated ;
front margin slightl}- rounded, with a fringe of long-
cilia ; occiput in middle with two small conical
tubercles, and on each side near the margin with a
bunch of half-a-dc>zen lon<7, thick hairs ; antenna:; lontj
exceeding the lower margin of palpus ; basal joints a
little thicker ; first longer than broad ; second longer
than first; third not quite as long as the two basals
together; fourth half the length of third ; fifth to
seventh equal, each a little shorter than third ; seventh
subuliform, sharp. Mask extending between front legs
spoon-shaped, as long as broad ; basal part four times
broader in front than at base ; front border triangularly
produced, obtuse-angular ; palpus large, triangular, edge
straight, with about nine interlocking teeth ; movable
hook short, straight, sharp. Prothorax short, narrower
than head, slightK- rounded behind ; middle third of the

Somatochlora. 135

hind border with a stronL;i\- inflated rim, ending;
abruptl}' on both ends ; sides a small elliptical lobe, bent
upwards ; stiL;'mata free ; w ing-cases reachini;" half of
sixth ses^ment ; abdomen once longer than bnjad, oblong,
roof-shaped, segments S and 9 sloping, the last truncate ;
segments of equal length ; the tenth \er}- short, entirely
inserted in the rounded ajjical notch of ninth ; lateral
spines on eighth and ninth flat, short, sharp ; a little
longer, the tip bent inwardl)-, on ninth ; dorsal hooks on
third to ninth spine-like, the last three strong, long,
bent at tijj ; anal a|)i)endages short, as long as the
last two segments, thick at base, p)"ramidal, not sharp
at tip ; dorsal median flat above, as long as inferiors ;
laterals a little shorter, strong, tip abruptly sharpened ;
longitudinal \entral sutures straight, ending inside of
apical tip of segment 9 ; space between them broader
than lateral spaces ; basal angle of segments 3 to 5
separated triangularly b\' an elevated ridge ; ventral
apical bc^rder of ninth segment \\ith a long fringe of
hairs. Legs widely separated, fore legs a little less,
long, strong ; femur a little incurved, of hind legs
reaching middle of se\enth segment ; tibia straight, of
the four hind legs fringed with long hairs ; tarsus
long, first joint of hind legs little shorter than second ;
claws strong, a little incurved, sharp ; genitals marked ;
ventral bag on sixth segment. Around the dorsal
hooks a round pale spot ; on each side an ill-defined
darker spot and two black dots on each side ; scars
oval, dark ; femora and tibiie with two blackish rings."
(L. Cabot, "The Immature State of the Odonata,"
Part III. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative
Zoology at Harvard College, U.S.xA., 1890.;

1 36 British Dmgoiijiics.

Date.

At Strathglass this Dragonfly was found on the
wing in July and August. In Belgium, according to
De Selys, it occurs as early as the middle of May.

Habits.

" S. nictallica was found, from hints given to me b}-
the late Dr. Buchanan White, at a mountain loch in
Strathglass. I spent o\er a fortnight in search of it
every day, but although I saw many specimens, I
found it very difficult to capture, as it has a habit of
hovering and flying well o\'er the surface of the loch
away from the edges. At times the males gave a large
sweep round, at which time it was the collector's
opportunity of netting the beautiful creature. I only
saw one female, and this I captured /// copula with a
male. Copulation took place over the water, and then
the pair made for the side, but my net was in the way,
and now the)' both grace my cabinet. About five miles
from the above localit}' I captured a male fl>'ing in a
ditch in a wood otwards the middle of .August. This
specimen was somewhat faded." (J. J. F. X. King, in litt.)

Distribution.

This insect had for a long time been on the British
list in consequence chiefl}-, if not entireU^ of Harris'
very uncertain figure in his " Exposition of British
Insects," which figure too he himself names iciica, and
which is probabl)' intended for that insect. In 1869,
however, Dr. Buchanan White captured some Dragon-
flics, wliich he found not rare, about some of the lochs
in Strathglass, in Inverness-shire. lie took them to be

Soiiiatoc/i/orn. 1 37

.S". arctica, and sent them to Mr. McLachlan as sucli ;
but they turned out to be S. mctallica, wliicli thus
obtained an unequi\ocal footing" amongst the British
fauna. In 18S0, after much hard work, a few more
specimens were obtained in the same locaHty by Air. King,
('>'[ Glasgow, wlio must be looked upon as the only
li\ing" entomologist who had taken this species in
the British Isles till this \-ear, 1899. /fn^s.'k /"/'< v-,-."- r

13. Somatochlora arctica, Zeti.

(Plate VIII.)
Synonymy.

.Eschiia aixtica, Zett. Ins. La]jp. 1041, n. 5 (1840).
Cordiilia arctica, SeK's Rev. Odon. 71 '1850); Hag. Ent.
Ann. 48 (1857); McLach. Cat. Brit. Xeur. 13 (1870;.
Epitlicca arctica, Sel\s Bull. Acad. Belg. 2; xxxi. 297
('1871). SomatocJilora arctica, Kirb\' S\'n. Cat. Xeur.
Odon. 48 (1890). Cord/i/ia subalpina, Selws Bull. Acad.
Brux. (2; 90 (18401 Cordiilia alpcsti'is. Hag. S}-n. Lib.
Eur. 41 (1840).

Zetterstedt's description.

.E. arctica : tota \-iridi-;enea. fronte puncto utrinque
ad oculos, abdominis incisuris basalibus segmentique
tertii macula laterali, flavis ; alis cinereo-h\'alinis subim-
maculatis, membranula appendicea sordide albida ?
(Long. Corp. 11-12, al. exp. 17-18 lin. . Mas ct Fciii.
Similis et afhnis priori s. ./:'. uictallicic, seel magnitucline
duplo minori, fronte tantum puncto utrinque ad oculos
(nee limbo inferiori toto ', flavo, alis ^' ? ) subimmaculatis,

138

British Dragoitjlies.

appendicibus caudalibus brunneis, nee nigris, ut et loco
natali ab ilia facile dignota. Ala; cinereo-hyalina.% basi
infima nigra, flavedine levissinic inducta, versus apiceni
in regione stigmatis nigricantis umbra fusca leviter
tincta^. Cellula triangularis ad basin et membranula
appendicea ut in pnecedente. Squamula aperturani
\'entralem juxta anum tegente incumbcns. In vi\a oculi
dimidietate inferiori glauci, superiori castanei, in mortua
toti brunnei. (J. W. Zetterstedt. " Insecta Lapponica
Descripta," p. 1041, n. 5, 1840.)

J-'ic;. 28. — Anal Appendages of Male of Somatochlok.v arctica.

(Magnified, )
a.. Dorsal view. h.. Lateral view.

Size.

Length of Male, 49mm. ; expanse of wings, Gjnnn.
Length of Female. 49mm. ; expanse of wings, ()8mm.

Male Imago.

Head and thorax bronze-green ; a \-ellow si)()t in front
of each eye, and the base of the upper lip wllow.
lives green. Wiih^s suffused with a \-ello\\ ish tint.

Somatochlora. 1 39

deeper near the costa. Ptcrostio-ina blackish-brouii.
Accessory uicuibi-aiic white, chirkcr towards the anal
angle of the hind-wing, which in this sex is pointed.
Legs black. AbdoDieii bronze-green, with a slight
coppery tint ; much constricted at segments 3 and 4,
and expanding a great deal bexoncl. Anal (rppeiu/aoes
as long as last two segments ; lower ones for rather
more than the basal half slightl)- curxed, then bending
outward with a more decided curxc, and finally almost
approaching at the tips ; rounded above, but with three
teeth below ; knoer short, triangular, turned up slightly
at the tip. (See Fig. 28.)

Female Imago.

Hiiul-i^'iiiii rounded at anal angle. Pterostignur
dark brown, paler when immature. Accessory membrane
narrow, udiite. Abdomen not constricted, but gradually
tapering towards the anal extremit}' ; tw o oblong )'ellow
spots near the base of .segment 3. Anal appendages
leaf-like, rather small. Milvar scale triangular, pointed,
and spout-like.

Date.

June appears to be the month for this species at
Rannoch, though it ma}' no doubt be taken in Jul}-,
and possibl}- till the beginning of August.

Habits.

C. aretica seems at Rannoch to be chiefl}- confined to
the sloping ground in the upper portion of the Black
W ood, flying in more open localities than ^E. cwrnlea,
and preferring a bit of boggy heath or swamp,
especiall}- on a slope. It has a ver}- tantalising way

140 British Dragoufies.

of soaring about at some little elevation — sometimes
in the open, sometimes about trees. It is no doubt
bred in the little marshy pools similar to those which
yE. CiLnilca frequents, and not in the loch itself (C. A.
Briggs, in litt.)

Distribution.

But {q.\\ localities can be given for this northern
Dragonfl}-. Its best known centre is at Rannoch, in
Perthshire, where it is usually not uncommon, though
difficult to catch. Mr. J. J. Y. X. King has a specimen
in his cabinet taken b)- the late Dr. Buchanan White
in 1880, at .Strathglass, in Inverness-shire. In June,
1895, Mr. K. J. Morton took a female in the
Breadalbane district of Perthshire, that being the only
one he saw with certaint}'. There is also one Irish
locality, Killarney, from which Mr. McLachlan has in
his cabinet a male, presented to him by Mr. BirchalL
who captured it in 1862.

14. Cordulia* aenea, Linn.

(Plate IX.)
Synonymy.

Libcllula (Cnca, Linn. S\st. Nat. i. 544, n. 8 (1758) ;
Linn. P^aun. Suec. -"^-Ji (1/61) ; Harr. P2xpos. Eng. Ins-
92, t. xxvii., f 2 ('1782); Charp. Lib. \\\w. 91, t. 14
(1840). Cordulia ceum, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand.

* Derived fiom Kop^vXt]. a club. One would thcRlorc have expected
Coi-(fv/ii7, and y instead of n also in Cordulegastcr (p. 157), the lirst part
of which is deri\ed from the same word.

Plate IX.

Corclulia wnea

Oxygastra curtisii

Cordiilia. 1 4 1

vi. 89 (1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 24, pi. xiw, f. 3 '1845) •
Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 67 (1840) ; Sely.s Rev. Odon. 75
(1850) ; Hag. Ent. Ann. 48 ^1857; ; McLach. Cat. Brit.
Neur 13 (1870J; Kirb)- S\-n. Cat. Neur. Odon. 52
(1890).

Linnaeus' description.

L. thorace a;neo-\-iridi (C. Linnftus, " S}-stema Xatune,"
i. 544. n. 8, 1758 . Libcllula <tnea thorace asneo-
viridi. Libellula thorace \iridi nitido : Hneis flavis. aH.s
palHdi.s, abdomine nigro, En., 'jG'^. Descr. Caput ct thorax
viridia, nitida. Ociili .subfusci ; aUc flave.scente-alba; in
quibusdam ad basin flavre. Punctum marginale fuscum.
Abdomen cylindricum nigrum, subtus flavum marginis

colore deam-ato : cauda diph\'lla, angusta

^. Libellula \ iridi-inaurata ; alis pallidis, pedibus nigris.
Df.S(1<l. Pmicedenti simillima. Mas cauda
quadridentata, dentibus superioribus pilosis, inferioribus
singulis duplici denticulo. Eemin.'e cauda foliolis 2
lanceolatis. Caput, thorax, abdomen cupreo-inaurata.
Thorax pilosusabsque maculis ; margo alarum posticarum
pone \ersus abdomen macula membranacea. Oculi
]jrasini. Labium pallidum. Abdomen subtus hinc inde
pallide albescens. (C. Linnreus, " Eauna Suecica," p. '^■,~lr
n. 1466, 1761.

[In the tir>t ediiion (if the Fauna .Suecica (174'j) Linna."us
describe^ on i)aj,'e 231 two insect>, X()>. 7O.S and 7()'k without a
specific name, of course, as he had not then adopted his binomial
system of nomenclature. Of these, 76S may well apply to
Sotnatocliiora fla7'oinacitlala, and 769 to C. crnca. In 1758, in the
tenth edition of the " -Systema Xatura;," he puts the two tor;ether,
and first applies the specific name irnca. In the second edition of
the "Fauna Suecica" (1761) he attain separates them, and makes
the first (.S'. flavoiiiaculatn) cnwa, while the C. iTuca of to-day is
t:;iven as a variety (fi.) of the former. That this was the real view

142

Britisli Dragonflies.

of Linnaeus is confirmeti by reference to liis collection, where a
Jla7'0iuaculata is labelled iriiea, and an a-nca is jilaced below it.
The specific names for the two species as now employed were
used by Vander Linden (1X2^), and though his naming is clearly
not in accordance with the views of Linnaeus in 17O1, it will
jierhaps be unnecessary to tinil a new name for the second species,
especially as both are fairh" descrijitive of tlie injects to which they
are at jiresent ap]")lied.*]

Size,

Length of Male. 47-5111111. to 50111111. ; expanse of
wing.s, 66111111. to 70111111. Length of l^^eniale, 4601111. to
49111111. ; expan.se of wings, 68111111.

<x

Fig. 29. — Anal Appendagk.s of AL\le ok Curdilia .i:.\ka.

(Mat^nified.)
(1., Dorsal view. b., Lateral view.

Male Imago.

Head bronze-green, labium orange, rhinarium yellow
Eyes green. I' rot ho rax, yellow margin in front and
behind. Tlioi-ax bright bronze-green, covered with
russet down ; projections between the wings orange.
Legs long, black. Mings hyaline, sometimes with a

* .See in E. M. M., iScjS, ]i. 228, a statement of ilie case 1\\- Mr. R.

McLachlan.

Cordulai. 1 43

vei'}" pale yellowish ting^c ; base of hind-wings saffron,
and the base of the fore-wings to a smaller degree ;
anal angle of hind-wings bluntly pointed. Ptcrostigiiia
2'5nim., rather narrow, black. Accessory iitciiibi-anc rather
\\ide, dark, but shading off to white at the base.
Abdomen swollen at first and second segments, con-
stricted at third, gradual!}- swelling to the eighth, and
then contracting a little again ; bronze-green, generall}'
with a copper}' tinge in the posterior half; suture between
second and third segments yellow ; under side of second
segment yellow. Anal appci/dni^cs blackish-bronze, as
long as last two segments ; upper, cylindrical, blunt,
slightl}- di\ergent ; lower one as long as the upper,
deepl}- bifid, j^arts divergent and pointed, and with
an external lateral projection towards the tip (Fig. 29).

Female Imago.

Closel}' resembling the male in general. Chestnut
tint to upper surface of e}-es (De Selys). Wings slightl}-
tinged with saffron ; saffron suffusion at base of wings
more developed ; anal angle of hind-wings rounded.
Abdomen stouter, more uniform after third segment.
Ancd (rppoidages as long as ninth and tenth segments,
somewhat spindle-shaped. Vuhuxr scale not prominent,
deepl}- bifid, two [jarts bluntl}- triangular, yellowish.

Immature Colouring.

Pterostigma }-ellow, then brown. In a ver}- immature
male the aceessory membrane was white, and the saffron
suffusion near it ver}- pale. The deep saffron tint of
some females is perhajxs due to immaturit}-, and ma}-
disappear t(^ a great extent later.

144

lli-itisli Di-cxgo}i flics.

Variation,

When mature this insect does not appear to be
subject to much \ariation. Usually the triani;le of the
fore-\\iny;s has a trans\erse nervure, and that of the
hind-wings none ; but it may be absent from the fore-
wini/s also — sometimes from one winij onl\-.

U^,^?p ^*5

-'■W

Fu;. 30. — NV-MPH UK CoKKl I.IA .v.w.x.

(X 2.)

Nymph (Fig-. 30).
Body of a general sepia tint, not \er\- hair\', but
possessed of some in parts ; broad and somewhat
flattened ; length, including anal appendages, 22'5mm. ;
greatest breadth Smm. Head somewhat pentagonal in
shape; width, in region of e\-es, 6mm., narrower from
front to back. Antenn;e se\en-iointcd ; basal two

Cordiilia. 145

swollen ; distal fi\'c lonc;'cr, slender ; apical one jjointed.
Mask tapering- backwards to the hinge, and reaching
quite to the posterior edge of the insertion of the mid-
legs ; narrow at the hinge ; spoon-shaped ; covering the
face ; palpi triangular, serrated where the\' approach in
the mid-line ; free joint slender, pointed ; long hairs near
the outer margin of the palpi, and a row across the
body of the mask on the upper surface, in a line with
the insertion of the palpi ; front border produced into
an obtuse angle. Eyes small, prominent, conical,
situated at the fore corners of the head ; vertex rather
prominent ; a dark patch on each side between it and
the eyes. Occiput rather broad, rough, hind-margin a
little concave. P/vt/iorax rather narrow, collar-like, with
a raised rim behind, dark mid-dorsally. Tliorax with
oblique interrupted pale lines, separated b}' dark lines,
one of which extends to the sides of the pro-
thorax. Mcso-tlioi-acii spii-aclcs exposed. Witiff-cascs
6mm. long. ^-t-gs long and rather slender, hair)- ;
fore- and mid-tibiae and femora with two dark brown
bands, hind ones apparentl}' with one ; distal joint of
tarsi darker than the rest ; length of legs, first pair
15mm., mid- 1 8mm., hind- 22mm. Abdomen with three
elliptical paler patches on each side of upper surface
of segments 4 to 8 ; under-surface dull yellowish-green ;
segments fairh" equal, except the tenth, which is very
small ; hind-margin of ninth truncated. Lateral hooks
on segments 8 and 9 ; mid-dorsal stump)', recurved ones
on the hind-margin of segments 4 to 9, that on 9 being
very short — most of these are situated in a conspicuous
pale area. Aiurl appcNdagcs short, pointed ; upper one
.triangular, laterals cylindrical, inferiors a little longer than

L

146 British Dragotiflies.

the rest. Male projection somewhat rectangular ; margin
sHghtl}- hollowed behind ; surface somewhat rounded at
each hind corner. Habitcxt at bottom of ponds, canals, &c.
but apparently not in the mud. [From Surrey sj^ecimens.]

Date.

Cordiilia icnea is one of the spring Dragonflies, and
its earliest recorded date seems to be May 10, the
localit}' being Surre)-. It is probably at its best in
average seasons in earl}- June, and does not extend
far into Jul}-. In 1891, however, Mr. Briggs saw one
at Bookham, in Surrey, on September 13, under
circumstances that scarcely allowed of his being
mistaken as to the species. Perhaps this particular
insect emerged at an abnormally late date, an occur-
rence which does not appear to be uncommon in some
species of Dragonflies.

Habits.

When C. cEiiea frequents a pond, it often hovers and
circles about not f^ir above the surface of the water,,
some few yards from the bank ; but along a certain
canal in Surrey, where on one occasion large numbers
were on the wing together, the}- flew back\\ards and
forwards with great constancy, within a foot or so of the
bank not far from the water. Though not particularly-
timid in.sects, they are not easily caught. They seem
to be very adept at avoiding the net, although it appears
to be quite an easy matter to intercept their course.

Distribution.

Not many records have been made of the occurrence
of this insect, and most of those that exist are of

Oxygastra. 1 47

localities in the south of luiuiancl, where perhaps it is
chiefl}' to be found. In Wales, Scotland, and Ireland it
does not appear to have been observed. Localities or
records that have come under my notice are : Hauip-
sliirc : Woolmer Forest and Hartley \Vintle\' (W. H.
Bath, in "Naturalists' Gazette," 1891). Berkshire:
Wellington College : J. E. Tarbat) ; Bulmershe Park,
near Reading (A. H. Hammi. Surrey: Esher Common,
near Byfleet, and Ockham Common (W. J. L.) ; Bookham
(C. A. Briggs). Essex: Epping district fH- Double-
day). In W. H. Bath's " Handbook " there is a long
list of localities, but he does not sa\- who is his authority
for them. They are : Epping Forest, Godalming, Wood-
ford in Essex, Hampstead, New Forest, Woolmer
Forest, Malvern, Starston and Costesse\' Woods in
Norfolk, Martlesham Heath in Suffolk, Windermere,
near Wisbeach, Pennington Common in Hants, Stafford-
shire, and Bishop's Auckland in Durham. It will be
noticed that some of these are in the north of England.

15. Oxygastra curtisii. Dale.

(Plate IX.)
Synonymy.

Cordiilia eurtisii. Dale Loud. Mag. Nat. Hist. vii. 60
('1834) ; Curt. Brit. Pint, xiii., t. 616 (1836) ; Steph. Illustr.
Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 90 (1836); Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 6^6
(1840); Evans Br. Lib. 24, pi. xv. f. 2-3 (1845); Selys
Rev. Odon. 77 (1850) ; Hag. Ent. Ann. 49 (1857) ;
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 13 (1870) ; Oxygastra curtisii,
Selys Bull. Acad. Belg. (2) xxxi. 306 (1871); Kirby Syn

L 2

148 BritisJi Dragonflies.

Cat. Neur. Odon. 52 (1890). Corditlia coiuprcssa, Steph.
Syst. Cat. 309, n. 3436 (1829), no description. Libellula
nitcns, Fonsc. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. \\. 146, pi. v. f. 3 (1837).

Dale's description.

Viridi-asnea ; abdomine medio fla\'o-maculatis ( $
compresso et alis flavescentibusj. About the size of
C. (Euea. Brassy-green ; body compressed, with a row of
oblong yellow spots down the back, absent on the
seventh and eighth joints only ; head notched in front ;
wings very pale greenish-}'ellow, slightly }'ellow at the
base in the male ; yellow-brown in the female, along
the costa of all the wings, suffused to their centre ;
stigma and nervures piceous (Loudon's "Magazine of
Natural History," vol. vii., p. 60, Januar}-, 1834).

[Stephens had ah'eady named the insect Ct>. coiiiprcssa (Stephens'
" Systematic Catakjijue," p. 30<;), n. 343O) in 182Q, but he did not
describe it till 1836. Evans s,nves compressa as a synonym (Br.
Lib., 1845.)]

Stephens' description.

yEneo-viridis, nitida, abdomine compresso, linea
interrupta dorsali lutea, appendicibus analibus maris
superioribus incurvatis, pilosis, inferioribus brevibus
emarginatis [Long. corp. 2 unc. — 2 unc. 1^ Hn. ; exp. alar.
2 unc. 10 lin. — 3 unc.]. Brassy-green, shining ; mouth
below and streak on the labrum luteous ; eyes greenish ;
thorax clothed with pale down, its extreme apex and
two indeterminate spots towards the base of the wings
reddish ; abdomen clavate, the two basal segments with
a narrow luteous streak, the third to the seventh with an
interrupted dorsal line, and the eighth with a spot at the
base luteous, ninth immaculate, tenth with a luteous

Oxygasti'a. 149

patch ; anal appendages moderate, upper pair pilose and
incurved, lower pair shorter, emarginate ; legs black ;
wings hyaline. Female of a brighter green, the abdomen
compressed and carinated, the dorsal streak broader,
and the margins of the third, fourth, and fifth segments
luteous ; wings flavescent, with a black stigma (Stephens'
" Illustrations of British l^ntomology, Mandibulata,"
vol. \i., p. 90, June 13, 1836.;

- \ 1
%. J

Fig. 31. — Anal AppKXDAdKs of Mai.k of 0.\vgasik\ c irtisii.

(Magnified.)
a.. Dorsal %'iL\v. b., Lateral view.

Size.

Length of Male, 53mm. ; expanse of wings, 71mm.
Length of Female, 50mm. ; expanse of wings, 74mm.

Male Imago.

Face metallic green, with one \-ellow transverse streak;
lower lip orange. T/iorn.y metallic green, very hairy,
prominences at base of, and between, wings brownish-
orange. Legs black. Wings h}-aline. Accessory
uiembmne white. Ptcrostigma small, almost black,
2mm. long. Abdoincu c)-lindrical, slightl}' swollen at

150 British Dragonflics.

the base, the last four segments dilated ; bronze-green ;
segments i and 2 with an orange mid-dorsal streak,
segments 3 to 7 with a long mid-dorsal spot con-
stricted about the middle ; this spot gets smaller as
the segments proceed posteriori}' ; segments 8 and 9
are entirely bronze. 10 is raised micl-dorsally and there
yellow. Upper aiuxl appendages cylindrical, hair\', black,
turning outwards at the point, with a sharp spine on each
near the base below, pointing vertical))' downwards ;
lower appendage shorter, orange, bifid, with the black
tips turned up (Fig. 31).

Female Imago.

Colouring much the same as that of male, dorsal
spots more conspicuous, absent from segment 7. Abdomen
much compressed, but rather swollen at each extremity.
Wi)igs much clouded with saffron, especiall}' towards
the costal margin. Pterostiguia black, a little over 2mm.
long. Vulvar scale hollowed out into a groove, projecting
but little, simple, not notched at border, less prolonged
than with the other species. The two anal appendages
are as long as the last segment, nearl}- black, down}',
cylindrical, and pointed. The eleventh segment is
yellowish.

Date.

June and Jul}- are the months when' O. eurtisii should
be sought for ujion the wing.

Distribution.

On June 29, 1820, Mr. J. C. Dale discovered this
new ]5ritish Dragonfl}' on Parlc}' Heath in Hampshire,
and subsequentl}' found it at llurne in Dorsetshire as

Plate X.

g
o

GoiupJms. 1 5 1

late as Jul}' i6. On June 8, 1831, ^Ir. Curtis captured a
specimen on the side of Ramsdown, near Heron Court,
Hampshire, in company with Mr. Dale, who, in 1834,
named and described it in Loudon's Magazine. It was
also taken b)' Mr. Cocks, at Braunton Burrows in
Devonshire."^ From this time the insect was lost sight
of till 1878, when on Jul}' i Mr. H. Goss took six
specimens (two males and four females) on a heath to
the north of Pokesdown, near Christchurch, in Hants.
Four }'ears later, in 1882, Mr. Goss again visited the
locality, and on July 1 1 took four males. Since this
date the insect has not been recorded, though there is
no reason to suppose that it has become extinct. Curtis
and Bath (the latter apparently following Curtis) say
that the insect is unknown on the Continent. But this
is a mistake ; it is found in France as far north as
lat. 48deg., in Spain, and in Portugal. P^rom its
continental distribution we should hardly have expected
it in Eneland.

16, Gomphus vulgatissinius, Linn.

(Plate X.;

Synonymy,

Libcllula I'lilgatissiiua, Linn. S}'st. Nat. i. 544, n. 6.
(1758); Linn. P^aun. Suec. ''^'Jl (1761); Goiiiplins viilga-
tissiinits, Evans Brit. Lib. 23, pi. 14, f I (1845) ; Selys

* .Stephens thouy;ht the only locality for the species Avas near Brockenhurst,
in the New Forest. Doubledav felt certain he saw one near Ejipin;.,' (E. ]SE ]\I.

i87i,p. ,s:j.

I 5 2 BritisJi Dragonjlies.

Rev. Odon. 82 (1850) ; Mon. Gomph. 129, pi. vii., f.
6 (1857) ; Hag. Ent. Ann. 49 (1857) ; McLach. Cat.
Brit. Neur. 13 ^1870). ^-Eshna vulgatissiiiia, Kirby Syn.
Cat. Neur. Odon. 6j (1890). Lib. forcipata, Don. Brit.
Ins. xii., 423 (1807). yEs/iiia forcipata, Latr. Hist. Nat.
Crust. Ins. xiii. 8, t. 97 bis, f. i (1805). yEsc/iiia forcipata,
Charp. Lib. Eur. 125, t. xxviii. (1840). Goinphus
forcipatiis, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 'ij (1836) ;
Seh's Mon. Lib. Eur. 89 (1840).

Linnaeus' description.

L. thorace strigis octo flavicantibus (C. Linnaeus,
" Systema Natura.%" i. 544, n. 6, 1758). Descr. Latera
thoracis et abdominis flava. AUc alba;, nullo mode
flavescentes ut in Rajana ; a dorso longitudinaliter
fusca. Puncta marginalia alarum fusco-ferruginea (C.
Linnaeus, "Fauna Suecica," 'i^']^, n. 1464, 1761).

Size.

Length of Male, about 49mm. ; expanse of wings,
about 62mm. Length of Female, about 49mm. ; expanse
of \\ings, about 68mm.

Male Imago.

Head black, hair\' ; frons, lower margin and sides of
nasus, a band across the labrum, and gena?, }-ellow ; a
yellow band also across the head ; between the e\'es a
transverse line in front of \ertex. Eyes green, small, far
separated from one another. Prothorax black, with a
yellow spot on each side, and two mid-dorsal ones of
same colour, the hind one being double. Thorax \-ellow,
front edge black ; five longitudinal dorsal black lines,
and one on each side at the junction of meso- and

GompJins. 1 5 3

meta-thorax ; at the attachment of the wings the thorax
is black, with yellow points ; between the wings x-ellow.
Wings hyaline, with a faint yellow tinge towards the
base ; anal angle of hind-wings pointed and deeply-cut
out previous to the point. Ptcrostiguia brown or orange-
brown, between black nervures ; on fore-wings 3rnm., on
hind ones rather longer. Accessory uiembranc extremel}-
narrow, whitish. Legs black, coxa; }-ellow above.
Ahdomoi, first and second .segments swollen, third much
contracted, then gradually expanding to the eighth, and
afterwards contracting again ; seventh, eighth, and ninth
segments winged laterally ; colour black with \-ellow
markings ; first segment nearly all }-ellow ; second with
dorsal three-lobed spot, a pair of yellow auricles at
sides, lower part of sides yellow, and male organs black
and prominent ; segments 3 to 7, with }-ellow
mid-dorsal streak, wider at base, decreasing in extent
posteriori}- ; sutures between segments 6, 7, 8, and 9
}'ellow ; between segments 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 small lateral
spot at sutures, much more enlarged on 8 and 9. Anal
appendages black ; upper, short, c}dindrical, divergent ;
lower one divided, in appearance resembling the u[jper
two, and h'ing below them.

Female Imago.

Ver}' closeh' resembling male, but abdomen less con-
stricted about segments 3 and 4 ; more \-ellow on sides,
anal angle of hind-wings rounded, no yellow tint at base,
no auricles on second segment of abdomen. Pterostignia
3mm. on fore-wings, 4mm. on hind ones. Anal appendages
short, black, pointed. ]lilvar scale not projecting,

triangular, with the apex bifid, channelled below.

154

British Dragonfiies.

Variation.

De Selys"^ mentions that Dr. liagen once took a
male with the dorsal yellow line prolonged to the
eighth segment, and appearing on the ninth as a
yellow point. These characters disappeared at death.

^^i

Fig. 32. — NvMPH OF Gomphus vuLGATissnirs

(X 2).
(After L. Cabot.)

Nymph (h'ig. 32).

"Length, 31mm.; breadth, 8mm. Head cordate, flat.

Eyes large, prominent. Ocelli developed. Oblique

groove extending from lateral ocellus to front angle of

eye. Vertex square, a little elexated. Part behind the

* " Revue des Odonates," p. 83.

GovipJiHs. 1 5 5

eyes short, notched at middle ; small elevated spots
behind ex'es. Antenn;e, two basal joints short, L^iobular,
second shortest ; third nearl}- t\\ ice a long as botli
basal, dilated, somewhat bent up at tip ; fourth rudi-
mentary Mask reachinc^ to the fore-legs, cjuadrangular,
channelled in middle, sides bent up, cut straight at
fore-border, middle third finel}' denticulated, and sur-
mounted by comb of bristles. Palpi short, arcuated,
fineh- denticulated at basal half, end hook stout ;
mo\-able hooks long and sharp. I'rothorax oval, fore-
border elevated, a flat impression on each side.
Wing-cases reaching nearly to fourth segment. I-egs
strong, formed for burrowing. Hind-legs more widely
separated at base. Fore and middle legs short, about
equal size. Femora short, stout, bent inward ; tibia;
longer, with strong outer spine at anterior end ; tarsi
two-jointed, short, basal joint \er\- short, claws sharp.
Hind-legs longer, reaching nearl}- to ninth segment,
flat ; tarsi three-jointed, second half the length of third.
Abdomen long, flat, lanceolate, decreasing in size
after sixth segment. Side border sharp ; segments 2
to 9 with large flat spots. No dorsal hooks. Segments
6 to 9 with lateral spines ; spines of ninth half as
long as tenth segment. Segments of equal length,
except the tenth, which is small, about one-third of
foregoing, and c\-lindrical. Anal appendices a little
longer than last segment, p}-ramidal, sharp. Superior
one thickened at basal half; lateral superior ones
shorter, sharp. I'^emale has abdomen a little broader,
and at end of eighth ventral segment a small bifid
tubercle, superior appendix not thickened at basal half"
(L. Cabot, " Immature State of the Odonata," Part I.

156 British Dragonflics.

Illustrated Catalogue of the Museum of Comparative
Zoology at Harvard College, U.S.A., 1872.)"^

Date.

This species is an early one, appearing in May and
being over by about the end of June.

Habits.

On the wing th.is species has a superficial resemblance
to Cordulcvastcr anmtlatKS, except in size. Its flight is
rather slow ; in fact, very much slower than in some
species, such as Ortlictrmn acnilcsccns, of about the
same wing-expanse. Being not at all " war}-," it is
easih' caught. It chiefly hovers about bushes and trees
or flies along the margins of streams, and rareh' takes
long or high flights. In this respect it resembles more
the Zygopterid Dragonflies than the Anisopterids to
which it belongs. (W. J. Ashdown, in litt.)

Distribution.

But few localities have been recorded for this
Dragonfly, which, from its conspicuous colouring, should
be easil\- noticed. All the records, too, as far as the
British Isles are concerned, are from England, though
De Selys (" Revue des Odonates," p. '^i) sa}-s that it
has been observed in Ireland. They are: Essex: Near
Epping (H. Doubleday). Berkshire : The Thames, near
Reading (A. H. Hamm) ; near Bagiey Wood (M. Burr).
Oxfordsliire : Brighthampton (Mr. Stone's specimens in
the Oxford Museum). Worcestershire : Near Worcester

* Some empty nymph-skins, found in the New Forest while the above
account of the nymph was passin<j; througli tlic press, confirm the i,'cneral
accuracy of Cabot's description.

Plate XI.

CO

o

Cordiilcgastcr. 157

(J. E. Fletcher). Hampshire : New Forest (W. J.
Ashdown). Evans, on Stephens' authorit}^, gi\es " round
London " and " in Kent."

17. Cordulegaster* annulatus, Latr.

(Plate XI.)
Synonymy :

^-Es/nid aumilata, Latr. Hist. Xat. Crust, his. xiii 6
(1805J. Cord/t/c_i{(isfcr annulatus, Steph. IHustr. Brit.
Ent. Mand. \ i. S6 f 1836) ; Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 96
(1840); Evans Brit. Lib. 22, pi. 13, f. 2 '1843); Selys
Rev. Odon. 104 (1850); Selws Mon. Goinph. m, t 17
(1857); Hag. Ent. Ann. 51 ('1857); McLach. Cat. Brit.
Neur. 14 (1870). Cordulcgastcr auuulata, Kirb\' S}'n.
Cat. Neur. Odon. 80 ('(890). Libcllula crraiidis^' Scop.
Ent. Carn. 259 (^1763). L. forcipata,\ Harr. E.xp. Eng.
Ins. ']'$>, t. 23. f. 3 {\']'$>i). L. boltoiiii, Don. Brit. Ins.
xii., t. 430 ! 1807). ."Esc/ii/a luiiulata, Charp. Hor. Ent.
29, t. I, f. 7 (1825); Charp. Lib. Eur. 118, t. 26 (1840).
Cordulcoastcr hoiulatus, Ramb. Hist. Nat. Ins. Nevr. 178
(1842).

Latreille's description.

Noire ; trois bandes de chaque cote du corselet, et
une ligne entre la seconde et troisicme, grand nombre
d'anneaux retrecis ou interrompus au milieu et en dessus,
sur I'abdomen, jaunes ; taches marginales des ailes

* KopSv\T], fern., a club, and yacTrrip, fern., abdotnen.
j Names preoccupied.

158 British Dragonflies.

alongt^es . . . elle a plus de deux pouces et demi de
long. (P. A. Latreille, " Histoire Naturelle des Crustaces
et des Insectes," torn, xiii., p. 6, 1805.)

[Kirl)y, in his " Synonymic Catalogue," makes Cordulegaster
feminine, while most authors make it masculine. As the generic
name is really adjectival, agreeing with the idea of a genus, it
may be of any gender suitable to the form of the word. Cordiile.
i^astcr may, therefore, grammatically be either masculine or feminine,
and. as it has generally been used as masculine, it seems better to
let it continue to be so used.]

Size.

Length of Male, about 75mm. ; expanse of wings,
92mm. Length of Female, including ovipositor, 84mm.
to 86mm. ; expanse of wings, loomm. to 103mm.

Male Imago.

Head hair\- ; frons yellow, with a central black streak
in front, and a black line behind along the vertex ; nasus
yellow, except the centre of the lower edge, which is
black ; labrum yellow, with black margin ; gena; yellow
basally ; labium yellow. Vertex black ; ocelli distinct.
Eves rather small, green, just meeting at a point ; yellow
triangular spot behind eyes. Protliorax black, bordered in
front and behind with )'ellow, the hinder yellow line
interrupted in middle. Thorax hair\-, black ; two brcmd
yellow bands in front, and two others, also broad, on
each side, with a narrow one and a spot between ; at
the base of the costa of each wing a small }-ellow sijot ;
between the fore-wings a large one ; and between the
hind-wings two large adjacent ones. Wings long and
narrow ; costal margin golden ; anal angle of hind-wings
produced into a blunt point. Ptcrostigma narrow, black ;
of fore-wings 4mm., of hind-wings 5mm. Accessory

Cordulegaster. 159

nioiibranc rather long, narrow, white. ^'-''ii-^ black.
Abdomen swollen at first and second segments, then con-
tracted, much swollen at seventh and eighth, and then
contracted again ; colour black, with yellow markings ;
first segment hair\-, with }'ellow line on each side ;
second with a \ellow line along fore- and hind-margin,
and with yellow auricles ; third to eighth with a central
pair of dorsal spots almost meeting, and a streak along
the hind-margin, not distinct in the eighth ; ninth with
two basal }'ellow spots ; tentii black. Anal appendages
black ; upper conical divergent ; lower one short,
rectangular, just a little indented behind.

Female Imago.

Closely resembling the male in most respects. Anal
angle of hind-wings rounded, and no auricles on second
segment of abdomen. Abdomen but little constricted at
middle segments ; eighth has fine )^ellow lines on the
broad suture ; ninth produced to a basal point dorsall}-,
and the sides partl\- wrap[)ing round the tenth, which
is small, with a dorsal longitudinal groove ; sides of
ninth and tenth }-ellow. Anal appendages short, black,
conical. Eleventh segment with yellow hairs. Ovipositor
7"5mm. long, divided along centre, pointed, l\"ing close
along abdomen, extending considerably be}-ond the
eleventh segment ; no sheaths.

Variation.

Sometimes the wings are dark, especially in the
females, but this is perhaps more a sign of age than of
variation. In the south of England, according to
De Selys, the yellow colouring tends to become more
developed.

i6o British Dragonjiies.

Oviposition.

The female does this apparently b\' dippini^ the tip
of her abdomen in the water at random.

Egg.

Length just over imm. ; breadth about two-thirds of
a millimetre. In shape they are nearly elliptical, and
there is a pedicel at one end. Colour \-ello\vish- white.
Contents granular. [From specimens extracted from the
body of a female taken in the New Forest, August,
i8g7, and preserved in spirit.]

Nymph (Fig. n).
According to Mr. L. Cabot this nymph is not to be
distinguished from that of C sayi, which he thus
describes : " Length 40mm. Head short, broad, l^readth
twice the length, sides straight, rounded off behind
so that the hind-border in front of prothorax is half
the width of fore-border. Vertex flat. Hind-border
somewhat indented. Fyes small, round, prominent,
placed at forward lateral angles of fore-border of head,
with triangular piece projecting inward. Ocelli \isible,
especially the lateral ones. Antennae seven-jointed,
tapering, slender ; the two basal joints thicker and more
rounded ; third longer than second ; joints three to
seven form a rather slender seta. Mask large, extending
a little be)'ond the middle legs, triangular, contracted
behind ; the sides bent up, hollowed back of fore-border,
which is prolonged into a bifid tip, surmounted b\' a
short hairy comb. Palpus broad, enlarged at inner
border and deeply denticulated, the denticulations of the
opposite palpi closely fitting into one another. Movable

Cordnlcii'astcr.

i6i

hook short, sharp, and slender. Prothorax half the
length of head and two-thirds the breadth, indented in
the middle, raised at fore part in small transverse lobe,
at hind-part border raised, and thicker in the middle.
Stigmata large, open. Legs very hair\-, flattened, formed
for running. Femora angular, thick, and a little bent.
Tibia; about equal in length to femora. Tarsi three-

17

Fig. 33. — NvMPH of Cordulega.stek annulatu.s, not full grown.

(X 2.)
(After L. Cabot.)

jointed, more than half as long as tibiae ; first joint
short, third longest ; claws very sharp. Hind-legs
reaching the seventh segment. Abdomen long, rounded
above, tapering gradually. Largest part at middle, as
wide as head ; no dorsal hooks. Segments 8 and
9 with lateral spines. Segments of about equal
length. Three anal appendices of twice the length of

M

1 62 British Dragonflies.

tenth segment, pyramidal, sharp ; superior somewhat
shorter ; lateral ones very short and sharp. At the
end of eighth \entral segment a bifid triangular vulva
nearl}- equal in length to ninth segment." (L. Cabot,
"The Immature State of the Odonata." Illustrated
Catalogue of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at
Harvard College, U.S.A., 1872).

Date.

This insect appears on the wing in June, and con-
tinues well into August, if not later. In the New Forest
it is plentiful, and in good condition in the early half
of the latter month.

Habits.

Owing to its custom of hawking backwards and for-
wards along the streams close to the surface of the
water, this Dragonfly is usually an easy capture, and
the more so because each male seems to appropriate to
itself a fixed and restricted range, which, if not thoroughly
disturbed, it will frequent for a long time. Especially
is this habit noticeable over the streams in the New^
Forest, and Mr. Morton calls attention to much the
same habits along the burn-sides and in the hollows on
the moors in Perthshire. But it is a powerful insect,
and on (occasion its evolutions become rapid and its
flight lofty.

Distribution.

This fine Dragonfly is well represented in Great
Britain. As regards the Sister Isle, there are no definite
records, but De Selys (" Revue des Odonatcs," p. lOyX
sa^•s: " Sc trouve aussi en Irlandc sur les lacs du nord";

Plate XII.

A iiax. I 6T)

and Mr. K. J. ^Morton records it as probably seen near
Glasslough, Co. Monaghan. English and Scotch localities
are as follow : Jiivcnicss-s/iiir: Aviemore (K. J. Morton) ;
Strathglass, Insh, and Loch-an-Eilan (J. J. F. X. King).
ArgyllsJiiir : Ben Cruachan, Ledaig, and near Tober-
mory (J. J. F. X. King). PertJisJiirc : Breadalbane
countr}- (K. J. Morton) ; Rannoch (G. T. Porritt).
EdiiibnrgJi : Near Edinburgh (De Selys). Cumberland:
Lodore, near Derwentvvater (O. Whittaker). CJicsJiirc :
Chester district (J. Arkle). Lanaxshire : Heaton near
Bolton, and N.W. corner of Lake Windermere (O.
Whittaker). Wcstmorclajid : Langdale (J. J. F. X. King).
Mcrioncthsliirc : Maentvvrog, Arthog, and near Barmouth
(J. Arkle;; Tan-\-bwlch (A. D. Imms). VVarivicksJiirc :
Birmingham district (A. D. Imms). Worccstcishirc :
VVyre Forest (R. C. Bradley) ; Near Worcester (J. E.
Fletcher). NortJianiptonshire : Near Peterborough (VV. J.
x^shdown). Surrey: Ottershaw (A. Reed). Berkshire:
Wellington College {]. F^. Tarbat); near Reading (A. H.
Hamm). HampsJiire : New Forest (W. J. L.) ; Bourne-
mouth (W. J. Ashdown). Devcmshire : Dartmoor (J. E
Tarbat); Lynmouth (Q. A. Briggs). Cornivall : Bude
(C. A. Briggsj. Guerusey: (W. A. LufQ.

18. Anax imperator, Leach.

(Plate XII.)
Synonymy.

Auax iuiperator. Leach Edin. Enc. ix. 137 (18 1 5);

Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 84 (1890). j^sJiiui fonnosa,

Lind. Opusc. Scient. iv. 158, t. 4, f i (1823); Mon. Lib.

M 2

164 British Dragonflies.

Eur. 20 (1825). Anax forinosa, Steph. Illustr. Brit.
Ent. Mand. vi. 81 (1836;; Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 117
(1840); Evans Brit. Lib. 20, pi. 9, f. 2, male (1845).
Anax foniiosus, Selys Rev. Odon. iio (1850); Hag. Ent.
Ann. 54 (1857); McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 14 (1870).
AiscJnia aiziirca, Charp. Hor. Ent. 31, t. i, f. i (1825);
Charp. Lib. Eur. 99, t. 17, and t. 45, f. i (1840).

Leach's name.

In the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, Vol. ix., \y 137 (181 5),
we find that Leach thus refers to the insect :

Genus, CCCCLXXXIV., Anax. Leach's M.S.S.

Hinder wings of the male not angulated at their anal
edge, but resembling those of the female. x'\bdomen
cylindric in both sexes, not clavate.

Sp. I, Imperator.

Inhabits England.

In G. Samouelle's " Entomologist's Useful Com-
pendium," p. 258, 1 8 19, the systematic part of which
w^as practically due to Leach, occurs the same diagnosis ;
but A. imperator is there said to inhabit " England, in
the New Forest of Hampshire," and the captor is ad\-ised
to stuff the insect.

[Although we have here no actual description of the species,
yet the diagnosis of the genus, of which there is but the one British
species, seems to quite justify Kirby in adopting in his catalogue
the specific name imperator, as prior to Vander Linden's name
formosiis, assigned to it in 1823. The hint to eviscerate and stuff
the body is especially applicable to this species.]

Size.

Length of Male, 77mm. ; expanse of wings, 104mm.
Length of Female, 74mm. to 77mm. ; expanse of wings,
102mm. to io8mm..

Anax. 165

Male Imag-o.

Face }^ello\v ; frons prominent, with a black line alcjng'
the ridge, and a bkie one immediately behind it, a
dark triangular spot in front of the vertex, which is
small and yellowish in front ; rhinarium brown ; margin
of labrum broadly black, of labium brownish. Eves
blue, in contact for a considerable distance ; a yellow
triangular spot behind them. ProtJiorax small,
brownish, yellow behind. Thorax green, with two
narrow lateral dark oblique lines, with a tiny spot and
a V-shaped mark between them ; attachments of wings
yellow and brown, projections between them green.
Legs brownish-black, under side of fore femora yellows
Wings hyaline ; costal margin golden ; other nervures
black ; anal angle of hind-wings rounded. Pterostigiiia,
fore-wings 5mm. long, hind-wings 6mm. ; narrow, brown.
Accessory membrane rather small, dark, but white at
base. Abdomen swollen at first and second segments,
constricted in middle of third, then expanding, flattened,
and of uniform width to the extremity ; blue, with
black markings — two spots at base of first segment,
two transverse lines on second, then a medio-dorsal
jagged line to extremity ; segments outlined in black ;
on the posterior segments the blue has a greenish tinge.
Anal appendages, upper as long as the last two seg-
ments, dark brown, at base slender, spreading at
middle, then getting narrower again, rounded at end,
internal margin hair\', a black irregular ridge, fairly
central, extending along the upper surface ; lower
appendage brown, short, cut square at end, surface
concave as seen from above.

1 66 British Dragon flics.

Female Imagro.

Closely resembling the male, but (xbdonicn green and
only slightly constricted at third segment. Ptcrostiguia
5mm. to 5-5mm. long. Eyes green. Anal appendages
rather short, 5mm. in length, brown, leaf-like ; eleventh
segment yellowish. Ovipositor red, reaching to end of
ninth segment ; sheaths present.

Variation.

This species does not appear to be subject to much
\ariation. In females that have been long on the wing
those organs become suffused with dull brown, and very
old females are sometimes taken that have a blue
abdomen, like that of the male. Charpentier figures
the female with this exceptional colouring in " Libellulinas
KuropjEa;," Tab. 45, Fig. i.

Oviposition.

Mr. McLachlan says that " for this [purpose they
thrust the abdomen into the water to the extent of
about half an inch." ^ De Selys says : " On voit celle-ci
raser la surface de I'eau en deposant ses oeufs sur les
plantes aquatiques."t No doubt the eggs are laid
within the substance of the water-plants.

Eg-g".

Colour white, with a pale yellowish tinge ; contents
granulated. Shape long, cylindrical, with rounded ends ;
a very tiny knob or stalk at one end. Length 175mm. ;
width •3mm. [Extracted from the dead bod)- of a female

* E. M. M., iX()(), p. Oi. j"]<.e\uc des Odonalcs," p. in.

A iia.v. 1 6j

taken on Eshcr Common, Jul)- iSth, 1897. The body
contained a large number of eggs]. (Fig. 4, Xo. 5.J

Nymph.

/H)dj' pale )'ello\vish-bro\vn, not hair}-, elongated, not
greath' constricted behind the thorax ; length, including
appendages, 54mm., sometimes rather less ; greatest
breadth lomm. Head flat, somewhat circular in outline,
cj'5mm. in transv^erse measurement, rather less longi-
tudinall}'. Antonur seven-jointed, basal two short,
swollen, the rest slender, the third long. Mask tapering
genth' backwards to the joint, and reaching be}-ond
the insertion of the mid-legs ; flat ; middle lobe pro-
duced in a \^er)' obtuse angle, and cleft in the centre ;
pali)i small, cut off sc]uare at end, fineh' toothed, ]:)oint
turned inwards, movable hook long, slender. Eyes
large, roughly pear-shaped, occupying the middle of the
lateral edge of head, rounded external!}-, with a pro-
longation backwards towards the mid-dorsal line.
Occiput rather broad, rectangular, with the hind corners
rounded off, rough. Protliorax in centre about as wide
as occiput, ridge along hind margin not prominent.
Mcso-thoracic spiracles uncovered, dark, conspicuous.
I^egs rather long, fairh' stout, more than one dark ring-
round femora; fore-legs 15mm. long, mid-legs 20mm.,
hind-legs 26mm. Leg-base - processes short, blunt,
jjosterior one the broader, nearh' equal in length,
roughl)- enclosing a right angle. JJ'i//g-cases about
lOmm. long. Abdomen with a pale mid-dorsal line,
most clear at the base of the anterior segments, where
on each side is a fairl}- large dark spot ; on each
.segment, excei^t 9 arid 10, there are eight tin\- dark

1 68

BritisJi Dragoiflies.

depressions, four dorsal and four lateral ; on the sides
there is a mottling of lighter and darker brown, more
conspicuous in some specimens than in others. No
dorsal spines, but fairly long lateral ones on segments
7, 8, and g. Anal appendages, upper one longer than
last two segments, straight, cut off concave at end ;

Fig. 34. — NvMPH ok Anax impf.rator.

(nat. size.)

laterals small, about half length of upper one, pointed ;
inferiors slightly longer than upper one, tapering to
points, which cross when orifice is closed. Male genital
parts on ventral surface of segment 9 very small.
Female valves nearly three-quarters of length of seg-
ment 9. Male projection small, cut square at ti]J,
about half the length of lateral appendages, not very

A nax. 1 69

prominent. [From cmpt}' cases found on Pusher

Common, June 17 and 21, 1897, low down amongst

rushes growing in shallow water.] (Fig. 34. See
also Figs. 14 to 19.)

Date.

Mr. C. A. l^riggs took this species immature on
Ockham Common as early as May 15, in 1893. M)'
latest captures were on August 10, on Esher Common,
in 1894, and a blue-bodied female on the corresponding
day of 1898 in the New Forest. June and July are
the best months for the species.

Habits.

It is an extremel}' difficult matter to get within
striking distance of these splendid insects, not onl\-
because they seem particularly suspicious of anyone -in
possession of a net, but also from the habit they often
have of keeping well out oxer the water, and hawking
round the edge of a reed-bed, or some similar post of
vantage. Moreover, their flight is often intermittent,
for the disappearance of the sun behind a cloud
is in general the signal for the cessation of their
restless movements to and fro, which are soon resumed,
however, on its reappearance. But on one occasion, on
a dull warm afternoon in June, they flew a good deal
even when the sun was not actually shining. At
Esher Common in the daj'time the\' seem to rest
amongst the reeds, but when evening approaches to fly
to the firs as if to roost there. In that locality also
the males sometimes fly low amongst the reeds,
perhaps in search of the females. Patience must be a

I/O British DragonJIics.

well-developed attribute of the entomologist mIio wishes
to catch this magnificent Dragonfly. The author took a
female hawking over water in the New Forest about
7.30 p.m. at the end of July.

Distribution.

In the l^ritish Isles the range of this species appears
to be confined to the south of England, where, how-
ever, in places, it does not seem to be uncommon.
Localities are : Surny : Esher Common, fairly plentiful.
Chobham Common, and Bookham Common (W. J. L.) ;
Crooksbury Common (E. B. Bishop)^ ; Ockham Common
rC. A. Briggs) ; near Byfleet (J. E. Tarbat;. Sussex:
Near Liphook (W. J. L.). HanipsJiirc : New Forest
(VV. J. L.). Middlesex : Burnt Ash Lane (R.
McLachlan). Essex : Near Epping (H. Doubleday) ;
Colchester, rare (W. H. Harwood). Kent: Heme (Evans
Brit. Lib., p. 20). Cambridgeshire : At Cambridge
(De Selys Rev. Odon., p. \\0). Guernsey: Grande
]\Iare and L'Ancresse (W. A. Luff).

19. Brachytron pratense, AUill.

(Plate XIII.)
Synonymy.

Libclliila pratensis, Miill. P^aun. Ins. Fridr. 62, n. 543
(^ (1764). yEsehna pratensis, Seh's Re\'. Odon. 113
(1850). ^schnia pj-atensis, Hag. Ent. Ann. 51 (1857).
BracJytron pratcnse, McLach. Cat. Brit. Ncur. 14 (1870).
Libellula. hafniensis, Miill. Faun. Ins. Fridr. 61, n. 542. $
(1764). Ih-aehytron hafniense, Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur.

* Identified by description only.

I'LATE XIII.

53

Brachytron. 171

Odon. 91 (1890). Lihclliila aspis, Harr. Expos. Eng.
Ins. 92, t. 27, f. 3, ? \\'j>>i;. .-Es/ina vcrnalis, Lind.
Opusc. Scient. iv. 159, t. 4, f. 1 (1823); Lind. Mon.
Lib. Eur. 21 (1825); Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi.
85 (1836). ALschna vcrnalis, Sel\-s Alon. Lib. Eur. lOO
'1840). BrncJiytron vcrnalis, E\-ans Brit. Lib. 22, pi. 13,
r. I, $ (1845). ^-Eschna pilosa, Charp. Hor. Ent. 37
(1825); Charp. Lib. Eur. 106, t. 21 ( 1840J.

Miiller's description.

Libellula pratensis alis liyalinis ; thoracis lateribus
fasciis virentibus octo, anticc tribus fuscis. (O. E.
AUiller, " Eauna Lisectorum T^-idrichsdaHna," p. 62, No.
543* 1764.) . . . LibeUula Hafniensis ahs basi mar-
gincque superiori aureis : thoracis lateribus sex-fasciatis :
abdomine i/i^i^ro liucis pitnctisqiic snlplnircis. \0. E. Miiller,
' Eauna Lisectorum Eridrichsdalina," p. 61, No. 542. J

[^^liiller here make> iwo species of the different sexes. It
seems better to retain pratensis, tlie name lie bestowed on the
male, not only because the name of the male would i)e more naturally
chosen, but chiefly because it ha> jiassed into common use. All
that can be said in favour of the female name, Jiafniensis, is that
it stands before the other in Midler's list.]

Size.

Length of Male, 57'5mm. ; expanse of wings, 7r5 to
74inrn. Length of Eemale, 54"5mm. ; expanse of wings,
74m m.

Male Imago.

Face yellow, with black hairs ; labium orange, with
black border ; border of labrum black ; rhinarium black ;
black line between frons and nasus ; black transverse
line along the carina of nasus, joined b>- black stem to

* Xo. 543 is the male, and No. 542 is the female.

1/2 British Drago}iflies.

the very broad black line in front of vertex and eyes.
Top of vertex yellow. Eyes blue, in contact a moderate
distance ; behind eyes a small yellow triangle. ProtJiorax
black, with yellowish hairs behind. Thorax hairy, brown
above, with two yellow longitudinal lines narrowing
posteriorly, and contracted just before the posterior end ;
sides of thorax yellow, with three oblique black lines ;
points at the attachments (jf the wings and the pro-
jections between them yellow. Legs black. Wings
hyaline, anal angle of hind ones bluntly pointed ; costal
margin yellowish, and a few of the transverse nervures
near it }-ellow also ; other nervures black. Pterostigjua
4mm. long, ver}' narrow, yellow-brown. Aeeessory
membrane rather small, A\hite. Abdomen hairy, but little
swollen at first and second segments, or constricted at
third, ground colour black ; first segment black dorsall)-,
yellow at the sides ; second, on dorsal surface a small,
basal, central, }'ellow spot, a transverse yellow streak
across middle of segment interrupted mid-dorsally, two
posterior dorsal bluish spots, sides yellow and blue,
auricled ; third to eighth segments, sides with an inter-
rupted blue line, dorsal surface with two posterior blue
spots, and a transverse }^ellow anterior streak interrupted
by the mid-dorsal carina ; segments 9 and 10 without
the yellow streak. Anal appendages, superior, long,
slender, twisted, ]:)ointed, a projection on the upper
surface near the extremit}^ a line of hairs internall}' ;
lower, short, slightly bifid.

Female Imago.

Face brownish-yellow. On front of meso-thorax two
spots instead of lines. Wings very pale yellowish, darker

Brachi'tron. 1 7 3

ill the costal region ; anal angle of hind-wings rounded.
Spots on abdomen \-ello\v instead of blue. Aiial
appendages long, flat, leaf-like. Oi'ipositor reddish,
reaching end of ninth segment ; sheaths present.

Variation.

The pterostigma of the right fore-wing of a female
in my possession is crossed by two transverse nervures.

Distinction from iEschnas.

Although there is little real resemblance in detail
between B. pratcnsc and some of the species of ^-Esclnia,
yet there is a certain amount of superficial likeness ; but
the following points will distinguish B. pratcnsc: (i)
The very narrow pterostigma. (2) The dense pale
down, especiall}- on thorax and front segments of
abdomen. (3) The bifid lower anal appendage of the
male.

Nymph (Fig. 35).

Body not hairy ; elongated, not greatly contracted at
base of thorax ; colour pale brown, with greenish tinge
to abdomen ; length 40mm., breadth just over 6mm.
Head raised in the vertical region, pentagonal, /■5mm.
across transversely. Antenna; seven-jointed, basal \.\\o
short and swollen, distal five slender, short, about equal,
end one pointed. 3Iask broad anteriorly, tapering
gradually backwards half-wa}- to the joint, then nearl)-
straight, reaching the insertion of the mid-legs ; flat ;
middle lobe produced slightly in a \-er\' obtuse angle,
cleft in the centre, and fringed with reddish spines ; palpi
rounded somewhat at end, toothed, point turning

174

BritisJi Dragouflies.

inwards ; moxable hook sharp, slender, rather short,
Eyes rather small, somewhat pear-shaped, prominent,
situated at fore corners of head, with a prolongation
backwards towards the median line of head. Occiput
rather large, outline concave back and front, lateral

Fig. 35. — XvMi'H ok Bkai hvtkon pratensk.
(X 2.)

margins sloping back ver}' much, a raised longi-
tudinal median line \\\\\\ a smooth patch on each side;
hind corners spotted, rough. Protkorax much rounded
behind, and margin there a little raised, dark in the
centre. Mcso-thoracic spiracles exposed, dark. Legs

Br achy iron . 1 7 5

short, rather stout; fore-legs i2-5iTim. long, mid-
r3-5mip.., hind- i5-5mm. ; fore femora, at least, obscurely
ringed with darker brown. Lc-g-basc-proccsscs enclosing
an acute angle, anterior one longer than and about half
the width of posterior, both pointed (Fig. 19). Wvig-
cascs about 8'5mm. long. Abdomen, with pale medio-dorsal
line, on each side of which on basal segments is a
dark suffusion, which gets paler posteriorly and dis-
appears on five ; this is broader at the base of segments.
On each .segment as far as eight, four black dots, two
on each side of mid-line, and outside these on each side
two or three others ; on nine and ten there are fewer.
No dorsal spines. Short lateral spines on segments 6 to
9. Anal appendages rather short, upper one about as long
as ninth segment, cut straight at tip, laterals more than
half the length of upper, pointed ; inferiors pyramidal,
pointed, about equal in length to upper. Female valves
below on ninth segment nearly as long as segment.
The nymph described is the female. The male was
dark sepia, 35mm. long, including appendages ; a lateral
spine indicated on segment 5. Male projection a tri-
angular flap about half the length of upper appendage ;
genital parts below on ninth segment small. [From two
specimens taken, with others, on dead sticks in the
Canal, near Byfleet, Surrey, March 23, 1894; and
bred May 19 and 24, 1894, one male, other
female.]

Date.

Unlike most of the /Eschnas, to which it bears a
great resemblance, this Dragonfly appears in the spring,
generally at the beginning of May, my earliest date

176 British Dragonflies.

being the 14th. Mr. C. G. Hall, however, has taken it
at Dover on May 5, and Mr. C. A. Briggs saw it at
Egham in 1893 on April 29. Mr. Arkle records it as
late as July in North Wales, and Mr. Hamm took one
near Oxford in 1898 on the 9th of the same month.

Habits.

The male flies low and swiftly over ponds or along
canals and ditches.

Distribution.

Not many localities have been recorded for this
species. MeriojietlisJiirc : Black Falls, Maentwrog (J.
Arkle). CccrnarvonsJiire : Abersoch (J. Arkle). Oxford-
shire: Cowley Marsh, near, Oxford, one (A. H. Hamm).
CanibridgcsJiirc : Wicken Fen, common (W. J. Ash-
down). Norfoi/x : Broads, near Lowestoft (J. Prest).
BerksJiirc : Radley, one (M. Burr). HcrtfordsJiirc :
Hertford (Evans, Brit. Lib. 22). Essex : near Epping
(H. Doubleday) ; Colchester, rare (W. H. Harwood).
Kent : Deal and Sandwich, common, and Dover (C. G.
Hall) ; near Heme (Evans, Brit. Lib. 22). Surrey :
Mole at Esher, Byfleet, and Ockham Common
(W. J. L.) ; Leatherhead, Bisley, and Egham (C. A.
Briggs). Sussex: East, common (G. T. Porritt) ; Abbot's
Wood (G. T. Porritt); Hastings (W. H. Bath). Ulster:
Portora, Enniskillen (J. E. R. Allen). Comuvight :
Westport fj. J. Y. X. King). Leiuster : Twy Laogh
(J. J. Y. X. Kingj. Scotland: (De Selys Rew Odon.
114). Guernsey: (W. A. Luffj.

Plate XIV.

i I

Co

20. iEschna mixta, Latr.

(Plate XIV.)
Synonymy.

yEschiid mixta, Latr. Hist. Xat. Crust. Ins. .xiii. 7
(1805). ^-Eschiia mixta, Charp. Hon Ent. 35 (1825) ;
Charp. Lib. Eur. 1 10, t. 19 (1840J ; Selys Mou. Lib.
Eur. 102 (1840;; Sel}-s Rev. Odon. 122 (1850;!;
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 15 I'iS/O). ^-Escl/i/ia mixta.
Hag. Eut. Ann. 52 (1857J. Libclliila colubci-culns (?)
Harr. Expos. Eng. Ins. 91, t. 2"] , f. i (1782). /Eschiia
coliihcrcnlns, Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 87 (1890).
A£sh!ia affiiiis, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 85
(1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 22, t. 12, f. 2 (1845). [-Esc/uia
alpiua, Selys Rev. Odon. 125 (1850), Kirb}- refers to
^-E. mixta, S}-n. Cat. Xeur. Odon. 88.]

Latreille's description.

Devant de la tete jaune, a\cc une tache noire sur le
haut ; corselet vcrdatre brun, avec deux petites taches
en devant, et deux bandes de chaque cote d'un jaune
verdatre ; abdomen a\-ant un grand nombre de taches
diverses brunes, melees de taches jaunatres et coupees
par du noir ; ailes sans teintes. (P. A. Latreille, " Histoire
Xaturelle Generale et Particuliere des Crustaces et des
Insectes." p. 7, 1802-5.)

[If the cjluhcrculus of Harris really is intended for mixta, his
name has the priority ; but, as De Selys j^oints out,* there are
several points which make this doubtful, to say the lea>t. ]Manv
features suggest mixta, but the length of the pterostigma, and the
thickness of the nervure which surrounds the cell at the anal

"Revue des Odonates," p. 122.

N

1/8 British DragonfJics.

angle, suggest juncca, while the inferior anal appendage is short
even for that species. ^Moreover, Harris seems to speak of its
being customar)- for the insect to fly in June, whereas mixta
seldom, if ever, is on the wing so early as that month. The case for
coliihcrculus being thus uncertain, it does not seem expedient to
put it in place of mixta, which has so long been in common use.]

Size.

Length of Male, 6imm. to 66min. ; expanse of wings,
83min. to 85mm. Length of Female, 62mm. ; expanse
of wings, 85mm.

Male Imago.

Face greenish-}'ello\v ; fore and hind margin of
labrum black ; labium orange-bro\\n ; on upper surface
of frons a T-shaped black mark with its stem reaching
the broad black line in front of, and along the side of,
the eyes ; top of vertex \-cllow. Eyes contiguous for
a long distance, blue ; behind the eyes a small
triangular }'ellow spot. Prothorax dark, a little
yellowish at the sides. Thorax brown, with two broad
yellow oblic]ue stripes on each side, and two tin}-
yellow spots in front ; spots at the attachment of the
wings, and the projections between them \-ellowish.
Legs black. Wings hyaline ; costal margin brown ;
nervures black ; anal angle of hind-wings pointed.
Pterostigiiia dark brown ; length 3.5mm. Accessory
membrane whitish in front, gre\- behind, size moderate.
Abdomen dark brown, swollen at first and second
segments ; auricles on sides of second ; constricted at
middle of third ; nearly uniform from fourth to end ; first
segment brown dorsalh", \-ellow lateralh- ; second
with a yellow mid-dorsal triangular streak reaching
middle of segment, in middle two yellowish trans\-erse

^^scJina. 179

lines almost reaching the yellow streak, posterior
part of segment blue, sides blue and }-ello\v ; third
to eighth on each segment two lateral anterior blue
spots, on each side a pair of dorsal posterior blue spots,
two small, }'ellowish, triangular, transverse, dorsal
streaks near the middle ; ninth and tenth with the two
posterior blue spots onl}" ; round all the spots the
ground-colour is blackish. Anal appendages long,
blackish ; Ujii^er edged internall\- with longish hairs ;
lower one triangular, shar[)-pointed.

Female Imago.

Face brownish-}-ellow. Eyes greenish. Anal angle
of hind-wings rounded. Pterostignia orange-brown, the
}'ellow triangular streak on second segment of abdomen
extending along nearl\' the whole of segment.
Abdomen not constricted at third segment ; blue spots
replaced by greenish-\-ellow. Anal appendages ver}'
long, rather narrow. Ovipositor curved inwards, pointed,
as long as ninth segment.

Distinction from J^. juncea.

There is a great resemblance between A£. mixta and
^F. Jnneea, but the following points will serxe to
distinguish them : (i) ^-E. mixta is smaller than
Ai. jnncea. {2) It has no black line separating frons
from nasus. (3) The costal margin of the wings is
brown in the former and golden in the latter. (4) The
arrangement of the nervures at the anal angle of the
hind-wings of the male is different in the two species
(Fig. ^6). (5J Pterostigma \\\ Juncea is longer than in
mixta.

N 2

i8o

British Dragonflies.

Egg:.

In colour pale \-cllo\v ; in shape long and c}-lindrical,
one end being rounded and the other coming more to a
point. This latter end was inserted in a kind of very
thin calyx, formed of more or less hexagonal cells, which
also came to a point, apparently of attachment. Probably
this calyx did not really belong to the egg. Granulated
in appearance, due no doubt to the contents. Length,
r6mm. ; breadth ■3mm. [Extracted from the dead bod}'

Fig. 36. — AxAL Angle of Male Hixd-avixg.

I, ^'Eschna juncea. 2, .-Eschna mixta. d., Accessory membrane.

of a female caught on Ockham Common, September ii,
1897: it contained a large number of eggs.] (Fig. 4
No. 8.)

Nymph.

Length, 33mm. ; breadth, 7mm. .Similar to .-Ji. cvouca.
Body shorter, and stouter in proportion. Head flatter.
Eyes larger and more jjrominent, separated from occiput
by nearly straight line. Vertex more in the same plane
with the eyes. Occiput shorter and straightcr behind.
Bands on hind angles less marked ; color gra)-ish ; a

^-EscJnia. i8i

pale elongated spot on each side of median line, and a
narrow pale band on hind angle, often scarceh' discernible.
Mask long, extending through middle legs, gradually
enlarged ; iVont border a little more than twice width
of base ; middle third of front border somewhat pro-
duced and rather widel\' cleft, with comb of hairs. J\alpus
broad, rounded at upper angle, and [MTxluced in \'er)-
short black teeth at lower angles ; dcnticulation beneath
discernible; moxable hook, reaching the base of opposite
one. Pfothorax as broad as back part of occiput,
rounded behind. Processes stout and blunt, not much
separated, anterior more contracted. (Fig. 19, No. 3).
Lco^s \er}' slender ; hind legs extending to ninth seg-
ment, ash-gra\- ; femora \\ith two pale rings. Jl'/z/o-
ursc's extending to middle of fil'th segment. Abdomen
short, stout, tapering from se\'enth segment ; dorsum
\'er\' con\ex, finel}- granulated as in A£. evaiiea, but with
whitish hairs ; colour grayish ; each segment with eight
darker imjjressed sjjots, four on middle and two on
each side near margin. Segments of nearh' equal
length, except tenth, which is half as long ; lateral
spines on segments 6 to 9 ; that of ninth nearl)- as
long as tenth segment. Inferior n/^pei/elages as long as
last two segments, triangular, sharp ; middle apjjend-
age notched, not so long as inferiors ; lateral superiors
rather more than half length of middle one, cylin-
drical, slender, and sharp. Male projection conical,
rather sharp, nearly as long as lateral superiors. Male
genital parts slightly marked ; female valve extending
somewhat bcw'ond ninth segment. (L. Cabot, " Immature
State of the Odonata," Part II. Cambridge, U.S.A.,
1881.)

1 82 British Dragonflies.

Date.

This is one of the later summer Dragonflies, the
commencement of whose period of flight seems to be
uncertain. Mr. R. C. Bradley records it on August 2
at Bournemouth, and Mr. S. Stevens exhibited one at
the Entomological Society of London on January 5,
1876, which he had picked up dead, or nearly so, in
his garden in the middle of November. Most of the
recorded captures have, however, taken place in
September. Those I have myself made (three in all)
were in that month, on the lOth, nth, and 12th, though
in three different years.

Habits.

It appears to be the usual custom of this species to
fly backwards and forwards and round about within a
very limited range, but at a considerable height above
the ground. As it is in addition very wary, it is almost
impossible for anyone to come within reach of a specimen
with the net. These habits are perhaps parth" responsible
for the fact that so few captures have been recorded,
although the species is, of course, undoubtedlx' scarce.

Migration.

Mr. F. M. Campbell, writing in the Entomologists'
Monthly Magazine for 1885, p. 192, sa}-s : "On
September 23, 1884, I witnessed a flight of Dragonflies
in r^rance on the banks of the Gironde, about se\-en
miles from St. Estephe. I first noticed it at 5 p.m., and
it lasted from one hour and a half to one hour and
three-quarters. The flies were from 5ft. to 15ft. ai)art,
and were taking a steady up-ri\er course, at a height

Plate XV.

85 "«"

^

^■Escliua. 183

of from I oft. to 15ft. from the g'round. The width of
the fliglit was about 150 }-ards. If I ma\- judge from
size, there were two species. I managed to catch one
of the larger examples, which I ha\c submitted to
Mr. McLachlan, who informs me that it is ^lischiia
mixta, (^ . The weather was fine and warm, but the sky
was clouded, and rain had f;illen during the da)^ ; there
was little or no wind."

Distribution.

This Dragonfly seems to be almost confined to the
south-eastern corner of England and the Channel Islands,
and even from there but few captures ha\e been
recorded. Localities are: Surrey: Esher Common and
Ockham Common, scarce ('W. J. L.). Middlesex : Upper
Norwood (S. Stevens). Sussex: Near East Grinstead
(M. Burr). Essex: Near Epping, rare {W. Doubleda}') ;
near Colchester (W. H. Harwoocl). Suffolk: Beccles,
one (C. Morley). Haiupsfire : Bournemouth (R. ^-TjoeHYAfit,^^^
Bradley). Gueriisev : Two (\\\ A. Luff). Scrrk : (\V. A. ■i^/^,'Js.
Luff).

21. ^schna caerulea, Strom.

(Plate XV.)
Synonymy.

-.'Esehua eccrulea, Strom, N}'e Saml. af K. Danske
Vid. Selsk. Skriv. ii. 90 (1783). ^Escluia hoi-ealis, Zett.
Ins. Lapp. 1040 (1840); Selys, Rev. Odon. 119 (1850);
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 15 fiS/O). ^Eschnia horealis,
Hag. Ent. Ann. 52 (1857). [l^ibellula squauiata (?) Mull.

184 British Dragonflies.

Faun. Ins. Fridr. 62, n. 546 (1764)]. Aischna sqnaiiiaia
Kirby, Syn. Cat. Neur. Oclon. 87 (1890).

Strom's description,

Libellula (Cc\;rulea) alis aqueis, corpore atro, maculis
ceruleis.

This short Latin diagnosis is followed b}' a more
particular description in Danish. (H. Strom, Nye
Samling af det Kongelige Danske Videnskabcrs Selskabs
Skrivter ii., p. 90, n. 129, 1783).

[Kirby, in his Catalogue oi" the Neuroj:)tera Odonata (1890), refers
the yEschiia squainata of jMiiller to this species. Aliiller says of it :
Lihelliila sqiiamata, alis albidis puncto marginali lutescente : lineis
thoracis quatuor ca;ruleis. (Faun. Ins. Fridr., 1764.) Two years
later he describes the insect more fully : " Facies fusca, all)o-\ariegata.
Oculi fusci. Thorax fuscus, lineis utrinque 2 albo-cceruleis. Pedes
nigro-fuscis, squamula ad basin posteriorum alba. Abdomen
cylindricum, fusco albo nigrocjue mire mixtum, subtus fuscum. Medio
Septemhris. (Nov. Act. Acad. Leopold. -Carol, 1766.) This
description might apply to several species of the genus ALschna, but
scarcely to this, which does not appear to occur in Denmark, and
where, too, from the nature of the country we should hardly expect
it. Further, in Scotland it appears to be over liy the end of July,
whereas Miiller gives as the date for sqiiamata the middle of
September, when several ^Eschnas are certainly on the wing, but not
CiVrulea. Ofcourse, Zettersiedt's name, borealis, bestowed by him on
the insect in his " Insecta Lapponica," published in 1840, must yield
priority to Strom's. He appears to have been unaware of .Strom's
works when he published the desciiption. It does not seem necessary
to discuss the claim of H^Yns colubercidiis (1782) to belong to this
species ; but should anyone feel curious about the identity of the
insect so named by him, he will find the case discussed in De Selys'
"Revue des Odonates," p. 122].*

Size.

Length of Male, 66'5mm. ; expanse o{ wings, 86mm. to
87mm. Length of Female, 58mm. to 64mm. ; expanse
of wings, 78mm. to 85mm.

* For a full treatment of the synonymy of this species, see R. jNIcLachlan's
article in E. .M. M., 1898, p. 226.

AiscJina. 185

Male Imago.

Face. Labrum dark brown, especialh- at margin ;
labium yellow, margins brown ; rhinarium blackish ;
frons and nasus dull yellow, separated by a thin black
line, on the upper surface of vertex a crescentic black
mark, joined b}' a neck to the black line in front of
the black \'ertex. Ryes blue, in contact but a short
distance. Tliorax down\', brown, two small blue marks
in front, and two irregular blue lines at sides ; sutures
between the \arious parts black ; projections at the
attachments of the wings and between them chiefl\'
blue. Wings hyaline, costal nerxure }'ellowish-brown,
•others black ; meshwork of cells fine ; anal angle of
hind-wings pointed ; anal triangle enclosed b\- strong
nervures, and divided into two cells. Ptcrostigiiia nearly
black, 4mm. long. Accessory iiiciiibi-auc triangular,
cinereous.. Legs black. Abdouicu swollen at second
segment, much contracted at third, about the same width
from fourth to end ; the aiu'icles on the second segment
have three teeth below ; basal segments down}- ; colour
of abdomen dark brown, incons[)icuous on account of
the great development of the blue spots ; first and
second segments almost entirel}' blue ; from 3 to 7
with six spots, three on each side of the mid-
dorsal line, the middle pair being sometimes dixided ;
8 and 9 have four, and 10 two. Upper anal
appendages short, black, blinit, \\ith a line of hairs
internall}- ; near the apex of the median carina fi\e or
six teeth ; and a tubercle near the base below ; lower
one half the length of upper, triangular, cut square
at apex.

1 86 British Dragonflies.

Female Imago.

Blue colour of a whiter or more lavender tint than
in the male. Ptcrostigiiia brown ; a little over 4mm.
lony,". Anal angle of hind-wings rounded. Ovipositor
and valves reaching just beyond the ninth segment.
A)ial appendages small, lanceolate, rather pointed.
The shape of the abdomen is more like that of
the male than is the case with the other British
^•Eschnas.

Immature Colouring.

The latel}^ disclosed male is of a general pale lilac
tint instead of blue, and then more closely resembles
the female.

Variation.

Great stress was at one time laid on the absence of
bifurcation in the subnodal sector brought forward by
De Selys ("Revue des Odonates," p. 122) — " . . . cette
derniere est la seule (avec \^-E. irene) parmi les Libcl-
lules d'Europe, dont le secteur subnodal n'est pas bifurque
sous la pterostigma." This character has, however^
been found not alwa}'s to hold, and Mr. McLachlan
thus sums up the case"^ : " That the uj^per branch of the
furcation (when present) is perhaps ne\er in the solid
condition usual in ^■Eselina ; that it is often rudi-
mentary, and that it is often absent in some of the
four wings ; but in all the specimens in m)- collection
I do not find one in which there is not an indication
(at least) of furcation, sometimes onl)- on one side,,
sometimes in the anterior and not in the posterior. It

* E. M. M., 1889, p. 273.

Aischua. 1 87

is useful as a secondary character that should be taken
in conjunction with others."

Date.

Judging b\' the accounts of the occurrence of this
species in Perthshire, June is the month for it, though
no doubt it would not be over b}- Juh'.

Habits.

In the Breadalbane localit}-, Mr. K. J. Morton notes
that it occurred singl\- in 1S95 o\er a considerable area,
and especiall}' affected the sunniest glades and openings,
both in the little birch woods which mark the course
i)f the burns down the hill-sides, and in the larger
woodlands on the lower ""round. It is a sun-lo\-inG"
thing, onl}- fl\'ing freel}- when the weather is reall\- warm;
it is fond of basking on light-coloured stones, but when
so resting is shy, and flies off at once if an}' attempt
is made to approach it. While the greater number of
examples were seen at the comparativeh' low altitude
of 500ft. or 6oDft., the species was also met with on the
"moss-hags" around a peat}' tarn at an elewation of
about 1700ft. Mr. Morton sa}'s that he has no hesitation
in expressing the opinion that its breeding-places are
such mountain tarns, whence the insects scatter them-
selves sporadicall}' over the glens in search of shelter,
warmth, and food.^ Mr. McLachlan speaks of those
he took at Rannoch in 1865, as being on the steep fern-
covered face of rock}' hills, where their capture was
most difficult. They never appeared to frequent the

* E. M. M., 1895, p. 260.

1 88 BritisJi Dragonflies.

flat ground or moors. "^ In the same localit}-, in 1889,
Messrs. Morton and King found that the)' frequented
the roadsides and open swampy places near the Black
Wood.t Mr. Porritt, in 1898, speaks of the species as
occurring about the Black Wood, always aicay from
water, flying o\er the heaths and heathery portions of
the \\'Ood in the bright sunshine ; not a single one was
seen over the loch, or the locken abo\c the \\'ood, nor
even about the smaller pools. He is inclined to think
that the species may breed in the wet mossy ground,
and not in the pools.;]: Mr. l^riggs sa}'s that acrnlca
flew in the little open spaces in the Black Wood,
rarely wandering into the open moor. These open
spaces contain little permanent pools fed b}' natural
drainage, and in these, no doubt of much greater mag-
nitude in the A\inter, dcntlca is probabl}' bred. In
its haunts are marsh}' places and deep holes and gullies,
interspersed with hillocks covered with very high heather
and fallen trees, rendering collecting difficult and active
pursuit positivel)' dangerous. In such localities it is fond
of settling on stumps, or among the whitened boughs of
a dead and fallen tree, where it is j^racticall}- safe from
the net, or on stones and similar basking places, \\here
it is \-ery shy. In the afternoon it frequentl}' settled on
fir-trunks in the manner noticed of its congeners, J/iinra
and grandis, in the Entomologist, \o\. xxvii., p. 350.
Mr. Briggs mentioned how one, with a misplaced con-
fidence, actuall}- settled on his face ; while on one oc-
casion a male made the great mistake of settling on the
breast of Mr. Morton's coat and looking him in the face.

*E. .M. M.. 1K.5, p. 117. t^- ^I- ^I- i^'S''. !'• o'^ij-

;j; luitom.. p. 87, 1899.

Plate XVI,

CO

Aischua. 1 89

Distribution.

This northern and Alpine Dragonfl}' has at present
been recorded in the British Isles onh' from the Ran-
noch and Breadalbane districts of Perthshire. Previous
to 1865 its claim to a place in the British fauna rested
on a single specimen taken in the north of Scotland by
Mr. Wilson, and by him given to De Sei}'s, as stated
in the " Rexue des Odonates," p. 121. In the beginning
of June, 1865, however, Mr. McLachlan took two males
and a female fl\'ing over steep and rock}' banks near
Camachgouran, on the south of Loch Rannoch. In the
Black Wood and on the north side of the loch during
the \\eek ending June 22, 1889, Messrs. Morton and
King took two males and three females ; while in June,
1895, the former was fortunate enough to discoxer a
more southerl}- localit}' in the Breadalbane district, and
there to capture several specimens. It is probabh-
present in the intervening countr\- between these two
districts, and perhaps in other localities also. It is
satisfactory to note that the species at Rannoch, in
i8g8, on the occasion of a special \isit b)- ^Messrs. King.,
Porritt, Briggs, and Morton, between June 7 and 21, was
common during the second half of the period."^

22. ^schna juncea, Linn.

(Plate -XVI.)
Synonymy.

Libcllula jiiiiica, Linn. S\'st. Nat. i. 544, n. 10 (1758);
Linn. Faun. Suec. 374 (1761). ^-Eshna juncea^ Steph.

* For a new locality, see Addenda.

190 Br it is] I Dragoiiflics.

Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mancl. vi. 84 (1835); Kvans Brit. Lib.
21, pi. II, f. 2 (18451 ^-EscJiUiX jiincca, Sel}-.s Mon. Lib.
Eur. 106 (1840J ; Selys Rev. Odon. 116 (1850); Hag.
Neur. N. Amer. 120 (1861) ; McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur.
15 (1870) ; Kirb)-- S}-n. Cat. Neur. Odon. '^'j (1890).
yEsc/n/ia jiniica, W^g. Ent. Ann. 53(1857). Lib. qiiadri-
fasciata, var. e, ocellata, Miill. Nov. Act. Acad. Leop.-
Carol. 61 (1764I Lib. occllata, Miill. Nov. Act.
Acad. Leop.-Carol. iii. p. 125 (1767). ^Lisc/iiia occllata.
Hag. Syn. Lib. Eur. 54 (1840). ^Eschiia rnstica, Zett.
Ins. Lapp. 1040(1840). ^EscJina picta, Cliarp. Lib. luu-.
112, t. 20 (1840;. ^EscJiiia caucasica, Seh'S Rev. Odon.
300 (1850). .EscJina propiiiqua, Scudd. Proc. Bost. Soc.
N.H. X. 215 (i866>

Linnaeus' description.

L. alarum membranula acce.ssoria nigricante, thorace
lineis sex flavis, abdomine ad basin attenuate.
Alarum posticarum membranula baseos nigricans in hac
specie, at in antecedenti {i.e., grandis 1 alba. (C. Linnivus,
" Systema Naturae," ed. x., torn. i. 544, n. 10, 1758.)
LIBELLULA juucca alarum membrana ac-
cessoria nigricante, thorace lineis sex fla\is, abdomine
ad basin attenuate. (C. Linnai^us " Eauna Succica," p. 374,
n. 1468, 1761.)

Size.

Length of Male, 73-5 mm. to 76mm. ; exjjanse of wings,
94-5mm. to 99mm. Length of Eemale, 68mm. to 73-5mm.;
expanse of wings, 93mm. to 97mm.

Male Imago.

Eacc yellow ; labium orange, edged with dark l)ro\vn ;
labrum educd with dark brown, both befcjre and behind ;

yEschna. 1 9 1

rhinarium chiefl\- dark brown ; a black line along the
suture between nasus and frons ; a black crescent on
the top of the frons, joined b}- a stem to the black line
in front of the e\-es. Top of vertex \-ello\\'. Ej'cs blue,
in contact for a long distance ; behind the eyes a
triangular \-ello\v spot. Prothorax dark, \-ello\vish behind.
Thorax dark brown ; two narrow curved }'ellow stripes
in front ; two oblit|ue ones on each side, rather narrow,
\'ellow", edged with black lines ; spots at the attachment
of wings \-ellow ; projections between them chief!}- blue.
Ll\o-s black, a little }'cllow at the base of the fore-legs
below. JI'/z/^-s hx'aline, in old specimens sometimes
tinted with sepia ; costa golden ; other ner\'ures black ;
anal angle of hind-wings strongh- pointed. Ptcrostigiiia
narrow, o\-er 4mm. long, dark brown. Acccssoiy incinbraiic
short, but broad ; basal half white, hinder part ash\'.
xibdoincu swollen at segments i and 2 ; auricles on the
latter ; much constricted at segment 3, thence to the
end of almost uniform width ; ground-colour dark brow n,
in neighbourhood of spots darker, sutures black ; arrange-
ment of spots much as in AL. cyaiica, but on segment 2
the mid-dorsal triangle is much reduced, and if it reaches
be\'ond the middle of segment does so onh- as a line.
The thin \'ellowish line of ^E. cyaiica immediatel}- behind
the sutures generally appears in ^-E. jitncea as a small
yellow dot ; the large posterior spots are blue ; the spots
on the ventral surface are }-ellowish ; on segments 9 and
10 are in each case tico distinct blue posterior spots.
Upper aiial appendages dark brown, somewhat short and
slender, with an internal line of hairs ; lower appen-
dage about two-thirds the length of upper ones, tri-
angular, light brown with black border, rounded at tip.

192 British Dragonfiics.

Female Imago.

Eyes greenish. Stripes on front of thorax very
narrow, or reduced to a point ; projections between
wings yellow. Anal angle of hind-wings rounded.
Ptcrostigiiia russet, 5 mm. in length. Abdoinoi but
little constricted at segment 3 ; spots that were blue in
the male greenish-yellow. Anal appendages of moderate
length, brown, leaf-like, with a black median carina,
somewhat rounded at tip. Ovipositor as long as
segment 9, curved, pointed, but shorter and much less
conspicuous than in Al. eyaiiea.

Hybrid.

At Rannoch, in June, 1898, Mr. Porritt relates that
a curious ^-E. juueea was taken, so much like a cceniiea
that it may be a hybrid, especially as no other Juueea
appeared to be out, the date being, of course, early
for the species. It may be worth noting that near
Bournemouth, on August 15, 1895, the author took
an ^E. juneea flying on intimate terms with a male
^E. eyanea.

Immature Colouring.

In reaching maturit\- there seems to be much the
same series of colour changes as is to be found in the
case of .E. eyanea, the next species.

Variation.

Besides considerable inconstancy in the size of the
insect, there is, as De Selys points out in the " Revue
des Odonates," ]x 118, great \-ariation in the size of the
anal appendages of the female.

Aischna. 193

Distinction from iE. cyanea.

To difterentiate this species from ^-E. cyauca it will
be sufficient to notice the following three points: (i) The
greater length of the pterostigma ; ('2; the golden
costa ; ^3) the divided dorsal blue spots on segments
9 and 10.

Oviposition.

On one occasion late in August a long tim.e was
given to trying to catch a female which was continualh'
clipping the tip of her abdomen below the surface of a
pond on Ockham Common, evidently by this means
depositing eggs, though in what manner was not seen,
in the shallow water, about ift. deep, in a corner of
the pond containing a bed of dry Equisctuin. On
approaching almost within reach she moved off a few
yards and recommenced ovipositing as before. On
returning later she (or possibly another) was still there,
but soon fell a prey to the net as she was resting
apparenth' with her wings on the surface of the \\ater
and her body submerged. A week or two later, in
September, on Esher Common another was taken while
ovipositing by repeatedly dipping her abdomen in the
water in a similar manner.

Egg-
Length r5mm. ; breadth nearly or quite a quarter of
the length ; c)'lindrical, inclined to spindle-shaped, with
the tip and pedicel lighter, or more transparent, than
the bod}'. [Extracted from the dead body of a female

O

194 British Dragonflics.

taken on Esher Common, September 15, 1896.] (Fig. 4,
No. I.)

Nymph.

Length, 44mm. ; breadth, 8mm. Very .similar to
^. cyanca, a httle shorter. Processes strikingly different.
Anterior only half as large as posterior and much
smaller (Fig. 19, No. 4). Granulation, color of legs, body,
and appendages as in ^^. cyanea. The lateral append-
ages are more slender and more pointed, and the hind
angles of occiput more rounded than in .-E. grandis.
(L. Cabot, " Immature State of the Odonata," Part II.
Cambridge, U.S.A., 1881.) On reference to Cabot's
figures of the side view of ^. cyanea and ^. jiuicea
we find a striking difference, especiall}- in the distance
through from dorsal to ventral surface, the distance in
the case of ^E. juncea being very small.

Date.

Unlike the last this is one of the later Dragonflies,
appearing on the wing about midsummer. I have
not myself taken one before August. Thence it occurs
till the very end of September.

Habits.

Though sometimes seen awa\- from the water in the
openings of a wood, the habit of these insects seems
to be to hawk backwards and forwards or round and
round in the sunshine over the reeds or along the
margin of a pond, settling occasionall)-, especially if
the sun disappears for a time. To make a capture is

JEschna. 195

usually a very difficult matter, and often, after
watching their evolutions for an hour or more, not
one may be taken. The best chance, perhaps, is to
stand like a statue beside a bush or clump of reeds
near their line of flight in the hope of one being
thrown off its guard and approaching near enough
to be struck at. On one occasion, if not more,
late in the season this species had a propensity for
settling in the sun on the trunks of the firs which
fringe the margin of the pond on Esher Common, and
then was very difficult to see. While so settled it was
very restless and could scarcely be approached from
the front without being startled from its perch, though
this was not the case if an attempt to reach it was
made from behind the tree. Mr. J. Arkle has seen this
insect on the wing at 7.0 p.m."^

Distribution.

This Dragonfly seems to be well distributed throughout
the British Isles, and is certainly not confined to the
north as was at one time thought. Perhaps it will be
found to have a preference for fir-woods. Localities are :
hn'crness-shirc : Strathglass, Insh, and Loch-an-Eilan
(J. J. F. X. King) ; Aviemore (K. J. Morton). Argj'll-
sliirc : Dalmally (J. J. F X. King). Perthshire :
Breadalbane district (K. J. Morton) ; Rannoch (G. T.
Porritt). Lanarkshire : Carluke district (K. J. Morton).
Westmoreland : Langdale (J. J. F. X. King). Lancashire :
North (J. Arkle). Yorkshire : Sandburn (G. T. Porritt).
Cheshire : Delamere Forest (J. Arkle). Ceernarvonshire :

* Entom., 1897, p. 70.

O 2

196 Bi'itish Dragojzjlies.

Penmaenmawr (G. T. Porritt). Warivickshire : Sutton
Park and Sutton Coldfield (R. C. Bradley). Hunting-
donsliirc : Whittlesea Mere (Stephens, /t'jr/f De Selys).
Hcrtfoj'dsJiirc : Chipperfield Common (J Arkle). Bcrk-
sJiirc : Near Bagley Wood, near Oxford (A. H. Hamm).
Haiiipsliire : Near Bournemouth (W. J. L.). Hern
Common (R. McLachlan). Siirny : Ockham Common
and Esher Common (W. J. L.) ; near Elstead (E. B.
Bishop) ; Weybridge (J. E. Tarbat). Ulster : Glass-
lough, Co. Monaghan (K. J. Morton) ; Armagh (J. J. F. X.
King). Lcinstcr : Waterston (J. J. F. X. King). Minister' :
Skibbereen, Co. Cork f J. J Wolfe); Muckross (J. J. F. X.
King). Connanght : Kip and Shindilla Laoghs, Castle-
kirk, and Mackree Castle (J. J. F. X. King).

23. .i^schna cyanea, Miill.

(Plate XVII.)

Synonymy.

Libelliila cyafica, Miill. Faun. Ins. P^ridr. 61, n. 541
(1764). Aischna cymica, Selys Rev. Odon. 115 (1850)
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 15 (1870) ; Kirby Syn. Cat
Neur. Odon. 89(1890). yEsc/inia cyanea, Hag. Ent. Ann
53 (1857). Libelhda anguis, Harr. Expos. Eng. Ins. '/'S<
t. 23, f 4. Lib. gra)idis, Don. Brit. Ins. v., t. 166(1796)
ALslina graudis, Panz. Schaef. Ic. ix. (1804). yEsJina
maculatissima, Latr. Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins. xiii. 7 (1805)
y^schna macnlatissiiiia, Charp. Hor. Ent. 34 (1825)
Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 83 (1836); Selys

Plate XVII.

s:
s:

^

^scJma, 1 97

Mon. Lib. Eur. io8 (1840); Evans Brit. Lib. 21, 11, f. i
(1845). yEsc/nia juiicca, Charp. Lib. Eur. 103, t. 23 (1840).
Libelliila varia, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vi., 242, t. 80 (1806).
IJbelliila cciica, Sulz. Kennz. d. Ins., t. 17, f. loi (1761).

MUller's description.

Libellula c^anea alis albidis, puncto marginali nigro :
lineis sex thoracis sulphureis. (O. E. Miiller, "Fauna
Insectorum Eridrichsdalina," p. 61, n. 541, 1764.)

Size.

Length of Male, 74mm ; expanse of wings, 102mm. to
104mm. Length of Eemale, 71mm. to 74- 5mm. ; expanse
of wings, io6mm. to iiomm.

Male Imago.

Face greenish-x'ellow ; labium orange-yellow ; margin
of labium and labrum dark brown ; rhinarium brown or
yellowish ; suture between nasus and frons a fine dark
brown line ; on top of frons a triangular black spot
connected b}- stalk to the black line in front of eyes ;
top of vertex )'ellow. Eyes blue, in contact for a long
distance ; behind eyes a lengthened triangular yellow
spot. Proihorax small, brownish-black, pale \-ellow in
places. Thorax dark brown, two large oval greenish-
x-ellow spots in front, two broad yello\\- oblique ones
with other \'ellow markings between them on sides ;
spots at attachment of wings and projections between
them greenish-yellow. Legs dark brown-black, with the
underside of fore femora yellowish. Wuigs transparent,
generally with a very pale sepia suffusion, especially in
old specimens ; hind-wings rather sharply pointed at

198 Britisli Dragonflies.

anal angle ; costal margin brown ; nervures black.
Ptei'ostigma black, fairly wide, 3mm. long. Accessory
nieinbranc small, pale in front, darker behind. Abdomen
swollen at first and second segments, constricted at
middle of third, then fairly uniform to the end ; ground-
colour dark brown, darker in neighbourhood of spots,
sutures black ; first segment, hind mar^-in green, sides
yellow ; second, a yellow mid-dorsal lengthened triangle,
an interrupted yellow streak across middle, along hind
margin four large connected green spots, auricles and
sides of fore part of segment blue ; segments 3 to 7
with two large green spots on dorsal surface near hind
margin separated by median carina, nearer the front
margin two smaller triangular ones, more yellow, also
separated by carina, a basal transverse yellowish-green
line, and on the sides two basal blue spots separated
by a black line ; the eighth segment has two small
lateral basal spots on each side and a pair of large blue
dorsal ones at the posterior end of the segment ; 9
and 10 have each one large unbroken posterior blue
spot ; on ventral surface are two large basal blue spots
on the middle segments. Anal appendages, upper
spreading at middle, surface oblique, rounded at end,
and terminating with an incurved sharp point ; a
yellowish streak down the upper surface ; lower rather
long, sharply triangular, slightly truncated at tip.

Female Imago.

Face yellow, with an orange tinge. Eyes greenish.
Pterostigma brown. Anal angle of hind-wings rounded.
Abdomen stout ; but little constricted at third segment ;
none of the spots become blue — they only reach )'ellowish-

^'EscJnia. 199

green. Anal appendages of onl\' moderate length,
lanceolate, with a black carina along upper surface.
Ovipositor long, curved inwards, reaching be^^ond the
ninth segment.

Immature Colouring.

At first the ground-colour is rather light brown, and
the spots are yellow. The latter change through green
to blue, while the former becomes darker. The ptero-
stigma is at first yellow.

Egg.

" Pale }-ellow, oval-cylindrical. x-\ specimen measured
rVin. in length and -^Vrin. in breadth. Under the micro-

lb o 0 0

scope the surface is seen to be finely marked with
uniform delicate reticulations, not unlike the facets of
the creature's A\'onderful eyes. Each &^^^ has a ver\"
short pedicel at one end." (C. J. Watkins, " Nat. Journal,"
1896, p. 145.;

Nymph.

Body without hairs, but granulated, elongated, con-
stricted somewhat behind thorax, general ground-color
dark sepia ; length about 46mm., breadth 9mm. Head
flat, pentagonal, 8'75mm. wide. \^ertex but little raised ;
on front edge o{ frons a pale line. Anteiuuc seven-jointed,
basal two short and swollen, distal five slender ; third
joint long, fourth short, seventh pointed. Jl/as/: ex-
tending quite to the insertion of the mid-legs, at base
half the width of the front margin ; middle lobe cleft
and produced in a very obtuse angle ; palpi cut
straight at ends, which internall}- arc produced ver}-

200 British Dragonflies.

slightly into hooks ; movable hook sharp and slender.
Eyes large, situated at the fore corners of the head,
somewhat spherical, with a projection backwards towards
the middle line of the head. Occiput rough, rather large,
separated from eyes by a curved line ; lateral margins
pale and sloping backwards ; a but little raised median
carina, and on each side of it a smooth spot ; hind
margin concave. Protliorax about as broad as the
middle of occiput, swollen somewhat, pale at sides.
Leg-basc-proccsses blunt, rough, enclosing a little more
than a right angle, posterior a little the longer (Fig. 19,
No. 5). Mcso-thoracic spiracles exposed, dark. Thorax
mottled at sides. ^-egs rather stout and fairly long,
first pair about i6mm., mid- i8mm., hind- 23mm. ;
femora with two dark rings, also indicated on tibiae.
Wing-cases about 9mm. long. Abdomen enlarged
gradually to the seventh segment, then contracting a
little more rapidly to the end ; a mid-dorsal whitish
line in the basal half of each segment as far as the
seventh or eighth, the ground-color darker on each
side of it, and containing a fine black oblique streak
with a black spot behind it ; on each side of most of
the segments two more black spots and two smooth
patches ; nine and ten are less ornamented ; the whole
of the abdomen above is more or less mottled with
various shades of brown ; no dorsal sjjincs ; lateral
spines on segments 6 to 9. Upper anal appendage
notched at tip ; laterals about half length of lower ones,
pointed ; lower ones triangular, jjointed, a little longer
than upper one. Female valves long, reaching to the
tenth segment. [Chiefly from an empty n^'mjih-case of
a female, from which the imago was bred.] Male

AiscJina. 201

projection conical, rather enlarged at base, shorter than
lateral appendages. Genital parts of the male indicated,
those of the female extending somewhat beyond the
ninth segment. (Cabot. j

Emergence.

The disclosure of the imago from the n}qTiph-case
agrees \'ery closel}' with the method of procedure
described for Libcllitla qitadriinaailata (see page 112).

Date.

About the first day of July sees this Dragonfly upon
the wing, and from that date it flies during the summer,
and well into the autumn, the latest date with which I
am acquainted being October 24, 1897, when one was
taken in a gutter in Kingston-on-Thames.

Habits.

Though sometimes seen flx'ing over the water, where
it is difficult to catch, this insect is oftener met with
along hedgerows and lanes, where it sometimes for a
long time flies backwards and forwards over a very
restricted range. On such occasions, notwithstanding its
rapid, powerful flight, it is usuall)' possible with patient
watching to make a capture. When once startled,
however, it usually soars away out of sight, to return
very possibly, however, to the same spot a little later.
On one occasion, in Berkshire, I noticed an Al. tvanca
hawking along a hedge in this wa)', and presentl}- saw
it capture a butterfly (probabh' the Small Copper).
After circling round it several times the Dragonfly
secured its prey, and began wildly careering round, as

202 British Dragonflies.

if rejoiced at its success. While thus engaged, a wing
of the buttei'fl)' — or part of one — was let fall, and
cyaiica settled on the hedge, where it appeared to be
further stripping its captive. Shortly after the Dragonfly
was captured in its turn, when the body of the butterfly
was found still between its jaws. But it is, of course, not
at all an uncommon thing for one of the larger
Dragonflies to capture a butterfly, whose wings it
removes in a very workman-like manner.

Distribution.

In the British Isles, this Dragonfly seems to have a
decidedly southern range. It has not been recorded from
Ireland, and its occurrence in Scotland seems to need
confirmation, though De Selys mentions it as present
("Revue," p. ii6), and J. Mackay records it for Argyll-
shire (" Young Naturalist," Vol. viii.. p. i8oj. Localities
are : Yorkshire : York (W. C. Hey) ; Thorne (G. T.
Porritt). Westmoreland : Langdale (J. J. F. X. King).
Cheshire : Chester District (J. Arkle). Hiinti)igdonsJiire :
Monk's Wood (K. J. Morton). Cambridgeshire : The
Fens (K. J. Morton) ; Ely (W. J. Ashdown). ]Vorces-
tersJiire : Near Worcester (J. E. Fletcher); Bromsgrove
(W. H. Bath) ; Trench Woods (R. C. Bradley). War-
zoiekshire : Sutton Park (R. C. Bradley). Devonshire :
(Evans Brit. Lib., p. 21). ^V(:;///tv'i'r/5////r / Near Spark ford
(W. J. L.). Hampshire: Bournemouth (W. J. L.).
Isle of Wight: Near Ryde (S. A. Blinkarn) ; New
Forest (Evans Brit. Lib., p. 21). Berkshire: Bagley
Wood, near Oxford (W. J. L.) ; Reading (A. H. Hamm).
Su7-rey : Purley (W. L. Distant) ; Kingston-on-Thames,
Chertsey, Esher Common, and near Claygate (W. J. L.) ;

Plate XVIII.

.'-"^

s:

It

^ .li-
es i

^

AiscJina. 203

Ockham Common (C. A. Briggs) ; The Borough (Mr.
Redgele}') ; Weybridge (J. E. Tarbat). Middlesex :
Cricklewoocl, Duclden Hill, Kingsbur\-, and Northwoodjff--
(F. A. Walker) ; Brockley (H. J. Turner). Sussex : Battle
(G. T. Porritt). Kent: Chattenden (H. J. Turner); Deal
and Dover District (C. G. Hall) ; Folkestone (G. T.
Porritt); Heme (Evans Brit. Lib., p. 21). Essex: Near
Epping (H. Doubleday) ; Colchester (W. H. Harwood) ;
Wanstead Park (F. A. Walker). GneDtsey : L'Ancresse
Common (F. \ . Theobald).

24. T^schna grandis, Linn.

(Plate XVHI.)
Synonymy.

Libellula grandis, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 544, n. 9 (1758) ;
Linn. Faun. Suec. ^^Ji, No. 1467 (1761) ; Don. Brit. Lis.
X., t. i^y, f. 2 (1801). y-Es/ina grandis, Steph. Llustr.
Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 83 (1836); Evans Brit. Lib. 20, pi.
X., f. 2 (1845). ALselina grandis, Charp. Hon Ent. 32,
t. I, f. 2 (1825); Charp. Lib. Eur. 114, t. 24 (1845);
Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 112 (1840); Selys Rev. Odon.
131 (1850); McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 15 (1870); Kirby
Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 90 (1890). yEseluiia grandis,
Hag. Ent. Ann. 54 (1857). Lib. quadrifaseiata, Miill.
Nov. Act. Acad. Leop.-Carol. 61, n. 540 (1764). Lib.
nobilis, Miill. Nov. Act, Acad. Leop.-Carol. 126
(1767). Lib. flaviponiis. Ret/,. Gen. Spec. Lis. 57, n. 185
(1783).

204 British Dragonflies.

Linnaeus' description.

L. alis giaucescentibus, thoracis lineis quatuor flavis.
(C. Linnreus, " Systema Natura;," i., p. 544, n. 9, 1758).

. . LIBELLULA grandis alis giaucescentibus,
thoracis lineis quatuor flavis. Libellula grisea, alis flaves-
centibus, thoracis lateribus lineis flavis, cauda diphylla.
Descr. Duo folia fusca lanceolata, in cauda
Abdomen longum, angustum, rufo-fuscum, interdum albo
maculatum. In Thoracc lineoLie utrinque du;t, oblique
transversales, flava^ ; thorax alias abdomini concolor,
hirsutus. Ahc flavescentes macula ferruginea. Est inter
maximas. (C. Linnaeus, " Fauna Suecica," p. ^iJl, No.
1467, 1761.)

Size.

Length of Male, 70mm. to 76mm. ; expanse of wings,
96mm. to loimm. Length of Female, 69mm. to 76mm. ;
expanse of wings, lOimm to 104mm.

Male Imago.

Face yellowish-brown ; labrum and labium of a more
russet tinge ; on the top of frons a darker brown crescent ;
vertex yellowish-brown. Eyes blue, in contact for a long
distance ; behind e}-es a small yellow triangle. Pro-
tliorax brown. Thorax russet-brown, with two oblique
yellow stripes on each side ; a blue spot at the attach-
ment of each of the wings. Legs rather dark brown.
Wings suffused with saffron ; all the ncrvurcs russet ;
anal angle of hind-wings pointed. Pterostigma russet,
narrow, 3'5mm. long. Accessory membrane rather small,
whitish. Abdomen rather swollen at first and second

ALscJdux. 205

segments (second with auricles), contracted at third,
then fairly uniform to end ; brown ; two posterior dorsal
spots on second segment, and basal ones on third ; a
lateral blue or bluish-yellow spot on the anterior part
of each segment as far as the eighth ; a transverse yellow
streak on each of segments 2 to 8 interrupted by the
median carina. Aiuxl appendages brown ; upper of
moderate length, with a raised median carina, blunt at
tip ; lower triangular, about half length of upper ones,
tip rounded.

Female Imago.

Eyes yellowish-brown, with a bluish glance. Anal angle
of hind- wings rounded. Pterostiguia 4mm. long. Abdomen
stout at second segment, not contracted at third, but
graduall}' tapering to the end vA the se\enth ; eighth and
ninth expanding, tenth contracting to tip ; lateral spots
yellowish ; blue dorsal spots absent from segment 3.
Anal appendages small, leaf-like, rounded at tip. Ovi-
positor almost crimson, pointed, much curved, as long
as ninth segment.

Oviposition.

One or more females of this species were watched one
fine morning in September, as they were ovipositing in
the very shallow water close to the margin of the large
pond in Richmond Park. This the\' accomplished by
settling either on a floating weed, or on one that was
but little out of the water, and then bending the tip of
the abdomen so as to dip its extremit}' below the
surface. It appeared to be done deliberate!}-, as if the
eggs were being carefully deposited, as no doubt was
the case (Fig. 3, p. 14).

2o6 British Dragoiiflies.

Egg-
Length about r5mm., breadth about ^mm. Shape
cyHndrical, rounded at one end, pointed at the other.
Colour yellowish. Contents granular or in oil-like
globules. [Extracted from the body of a dead female
caught in Richmond Park, September ii, 1898.]

Nymph.

Body without hairs, but graiiulated, elongated,
constricted to a considerable extent behind thorax ;
colour dark chestnut-brown ; length 40mm., breadth
8'5mm. Head rather flat, pentagonal, 9mm. wide.
Vertex a little raised. Antenna seven-jointed, two basal
joints short and swollen, five distal ones slender ; third
long, fourth short, rest about equal, seventh pointed.
Mask at hinge about half width of front border ; middle
lobe cleft, and produced very little in a very obtuse
angle ; palpi cut straight at ends ; movable hooks sharp
and slender. Eyes rather large, situated at fore corners
of head, somewhat spherical, with a prolongation backward
toward the middle line of head. Occiput fairly broad ;
curved line separating it from eyes, lateral margin
sloping backwards, hind margin straight, median line but
little raised, pale, on each side of it a smooth patch.
ProtJiorax in centre, about as wide as middle of occiput,
with a raised front margin ; almost pointed in the
middle of the hind margin ; sides pale. Leg-base-
processes rough, sharp-pointed, about equal, enclosing an
acute angle, but not much less than a right angle ; tip
of anterior process turned outward a little. (Eig. 19,
No. 6). Meso-thoracic spiracles exposed. Legs rather
stout, fairly long ; first pair about 14mm. in length, mid-

yEscJuia. 207

I /mm., hind- 21mm.; femora obscurely ringed; tarsi
much darker than the rest of the leg. Wuig-axses
broad, about 9mm. long. Abdomoi enlarged gradually
to sixth .segment, then contracting rather rapidh' to the
end ; a few dots, lines, and smooth depressions, cor-
responding very much with those on ^. cyanca, but
much less marked ; no dorsal spines ; lateral spines on
segments 6 to 9, indicated on 5. Upper anal appendage
about I mm. shorter than lower ones, notched with a
square-cut notch ; laterals cylindrical, pointed, barely half
length of inferiors ; inferiors triangular, angular, longer
than last two segments, sharp-pointed. Male projeetion,
triangular, blunt, nearly as long as lateral appendages.
[From a male specimen taken from the canal near
B\'fleet, which died before disclosing an imago, but with
little doubt to be referred to this species. It agrees
with Cabot's description, in this case a short one.]

Date.

Once seen on June 23 ; but the beginning of Juh' is
the usual time for the insect to appear. Thence it
continues on the wing till about the middle of
September.

Habits.

Though perhaps even more powerful on the wing than
u'E. cj'aiiea, and oftener seen near water, its habits are
very similar to those of that species. When encountered
hawking along a hedgerow or a lane, with care a capture
is usually not difficult to effect ; but if once disturbed and
frightened, the insect will probabl}^ soar straight away
and be seen again no more. It is not an uncommon

2o8 British Dragoiiflics.

thing to see this species at rest on a bare wall in the
sun. On one still afternoon, as a specimen of this
Dragonfly was hawking about overhead, the stroke of
its wings could be heard a dozen or more yards away.
yE. gmndis frequently visits gardens even in towns, and
there and elsewhere continues its evolutions till quite
late in the evening, as has often been recorded — for
instance : At Glasslough, Co. Monaghan, when nearl}-
dark (K. J. Morton) ; near Chester, along a hedge,
9.0 p.m., on July 21 (J. x^rkle) ; and Chester, at 7.0 p.m.,
on September 4 (J. Arkle). On the other hand, on
August 8 one was seen on the wing as earl}- as
7.45 a.m. It is voracious and fearless, and often preys on
quite large insects, Charceas graininis and Hydrcecia
nictitans being two victims noticed at Glasslough.*

Migration.

De Selys says in this connection : " Elle accomplit
parfois de grandes migrations." (" Revue des Odonates,"
p. 131.)

Distribution,

The range of this species seems to be chiefl}' in the
southern part of the British Isles. De Selys says :
" dans les trois parties des ties Britanniques " (" Revue,"
p. 131), but I have seen no records for Scotland.
LancasJiirc : Near Heaton, near Bolton (O. Whittaker) ;
Marton Mere, near Blackpool (G. T. Porritt). Yorkshire :
York (W. C. Hey). Cheshire : Chester District (J. Arkle).
MeriojietJisJiirc : Tan-y-bwlch (A. W. Imms). Stafford-
shire: (W. n. Bath, "Naturalists' Gazette," 1891, p. 43)-

*E. M. M., 1892, p. 301.

Plate XIX.

cs

s:

o

CO

ALschna. 209

WarwicksJiirc : Sutton Park and Sutton Coldfield
(R. C. Bradley) ; Birmingham District (A. W. Imms).

Worcestcrsltirc : Near Worcester (J. E. Fletcher). Lin-
colnshire: i E\"ans Brit. Lib. p. 20). HnntingdonsJiirc :
Monk's Wood (K. J. Morton). CauibridgcsJiirc : Fens
(K. J. Morton) ; Wicken Fen (W. J. Ashdown) ; West
Wickham (H. J. Turner). Xorfolk : Near Lowestoft
(J. Brest). Essex: Colchester and near Clacton-on-Sea
(W. H. Harwood); Wanstead Park (F. A. Walker);
near Epping (H. Doubledayj. Hertfordshire : (Evans
Brit. Lib., p. 20). Devonshire : (Evans Brit. Lib., j). 20).
Hampshire : Bournemouth (W\ J. L.). Berkshire :
Bagle\' Wood, S. Hincksc}-, and near E}msham
(W. J. L.) ; Reading (A. H. Hamm). Oxfordshire:
Brighthampton (Mr. Stone's specimens in Oxford
Museum). Surrey: Esher Common, Ockham Common,
near Clandon, near Byfleet, and Richmond Park
(W. J. L ) ; Bookham Common (C. A. Briggs) ; Kew
(G. Nicholson) ; Weybridge (J. E. Tarbat). Middle-
sex: Cricklewood and Pinner (F. A. Walker) ; Brockley
(H. J. Turner). Kent: Deal and Dover District (C. G.
Hall). Ulster : Glasslough, Co. Monaghan, very common
(K. J. Morton). Leinster : Waterston (J. J. F. X. King).

25. ^schna isosceles, Mlill.

(Plate XLX.)
Synonymy.

Lib. quadrifaseiata, van /3. isoeeles, Miill. Nova Acta
Leop.-Carol. iii. 125, n. 9 (1767). Asehna isoeeles, Hag.
Syn. Lib. Eur. 58 (1840) ; Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur.

P

2IO British Dragonflies.

Odon. 90 (1890). ^-Eshna grandis, Lind. Opusc. Scient,
iv. 160, n. 3, t. 4, f. 3 (1823). ALscJiua cJirysopJitJialiints.
Charp. Hon Ent. y^^, tab. i., f. 3 (1825) ; Charp. Lib.
Eur. 116, tab. 25 (1840). ^Es/iiia nifescciis, Lind. Mon.
Lib. Eur. 27 (1825); Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi.
82 (1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 20, pi. x., f. i (1845). .-Eschna
rufescens, Selys Rev. Odon. 129 (1850); McLach. Cat.
Brit. Neur. 15 (1870). /Esc/iuia nifesccns, Hag. Ent.
Ann. 54 (1857).

Mli ler's description.

Lihcllula isocclcs alis albentibus : abdomine rufo-fusco,
basi dorsi triangulo flavo . . . Alae in mare albidae,
inferiores quidem ad basin incur\atam lutescentes, in
fcemina al?e oinnes subflavescentes. Linear thoracis
laterales obsoleto-flava,-. (F. F. Miiller, " Nova Acta
Leop.-Carol." iii., p. 125, n. 9(1767;.

[Miiller places this insect under Lib. quadiifasciata, and questions
whether it and others are varieties or species. Its being found to
be a species gives priority to Aliiller's name, the spelling of which
needs altering to isosceh's.~\

Size.

Length of Male 67mm. ; expanse of wings, 91mm.

Length of Female, 70mm. ; expanse of wings 94mm.

[From two specimens in Mr. McLachlan's cabinet.]

Male Imago.

Head, thorax, and abdomen of a bright sienna-
brown ; face of a )'ellowish tinge, upper li[j margined
with brown. Eyes green. Thorax with two oblitiue
yellow lines on each side ; no dorsal spots or lines in
front ; attachments of the wings not blue, but yellow.
Les[s black, with base of femora brown. M'iiios with a

j^scJina. 2 1 1

slight brownish tinge ; ncrvures blackish ; base of the
wings saffron ; anal angle of hind-wings pointed.
Pterostigina brown, about 4'5mm. in length. Accessory
vienibranc large, blackish. Abdomen, first and second
segments swollen, third constricted, then of nearh' the
same width from four to the end ; a mid-dorsal
black keel ; on the middle of the upper surface of the
second segment a large }'ellow triangular spot ; two
transverse black streaks, interrupted b\' the }'ellow triangle
on segment 2 ; a trans\-erse black streak and two black
dots on segments 3 to 7 ; a broad, longitudinal, mid-
dorsal line on segments 8 and 9 ; the sutures of the
segments black. Upper anal appendages brown, hair\-,
long, leaf-like, a ver\- obtuse point near the base below ;
lower ai^pendage about lialf the length of upper,
brown, triangular.

Female Imago,

Colour and markings much as in male. Abdomen but
slightly constricted at third segment. Anal appendages
shorter than in male, brown, slender. Saffron at base of
wings not so marked as in male. Anal angle of hind-
wings rounded.

Variation.

De Sel\'s speaks of specimens with ver}' brown wings
as varieties.

Nymph.

Length, 40mm. to 44mm. ; breadth, 9mm. Stout.
Head large, flat, broader than long. Eyes large, very
prominent, separated from occiput by nearly straight

P 2

212 British D7'agonflies.

line. Occiput short, hind angles rounded and with
poHshed bands on upper side ; a poHshed spot on each
side of the mecHan Hne ; hind border notched. OcelH
incHcated. Anterior portion of vertex semicircular.
Antenna; short, not extending beyond the eyes ; seven-
jointed, third joint longest. Mask extending between
middle legs, stout ; length greater than breadth ;
enlarged gradually forward ; middle third somewhat
produced, cleft in middle, with comb of hairs. Palpi
broad, straight, cut square at end and jDroduced only
slightly in end hooks, finely denticulated. Movable
hooks sharp and bent, thin, just reaching the base of
their opposite. Prothorax not as broad as occiput, hind
border rounded. Processes enclosing an acute angle,
anterior one half length of posterior, both sharp. (Pig.
19, No. 7.) Legs rather slender, hind-legs longest,
extending to eighth segment ; femora somewhat arcuated ;
two faintly-marked pale rings on lower portion of femora.
Wing-cases extending to fourth segment. Abdomen
stout, very convex above, tapering from the middle to
the tip, smooth ; two parallel dark dorsal bands best
defined at beginning of segments. Lateral spines on
segments 6 to 9, strong, last shorter than segment 10.
Appendages sharp, long as the last two segments ;
lateral inferiors longest, lateral superiors two thirds the
length of middle, middle nearly or quite straight at tip.
Male projection stout, blunt, triangular, angular, half
length of lateral superior appendages. Female \cntral
valve reaches end of segment. (L. Cabot, " The
Immature State of the Odonata," Part IL Memoirs of
the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard
College, U.S.A., 1881).

Plate XX.

Calopteryx vir^o

(nat. size).

Calopteryx splendcns

(nat. si/r).

Caloptciyx. 2 1 3

Date.

In Belgium at the end of May and in June. It flies
at the same time as Anax impcrator. (De Selys.j

Distribution.

This fine Dragonfl}- has a vcf)' restricted range in
this countr)'. It is only found in the Fens, and, till
one was taken about five years ago, it was thought to
have become extinct e\-en there. McLachlan sa}-s that
it used to be common near Yarmouth, while Bath sa}'S
that it was formerly taken at Halvergate, in Norfolk,
and Whittlesea Mere, in Cambridgeshire. The onl}'
dated records I possess are two specimens near Norwich
in 1 87 1 (C. G. Barrett), and one in the Fens in
1893 (W. H. Bath). The fact of its coming to light
again after being unnoticed for so long should
encourage Fen collectors in the early summer (perhaps
early June) to make an attempt to place this insect in
a more stable position on our list.

26. Calopteryx virgo, Linn.

(Plate XX.)
Synonymy.

Libcllula virgo, Linn. S}'st. Nat. i. 545, n. 17 (1758) I
Linn. Faun. Suec. 374, n. 1470 (176 1). Agn'oii virgo,
Charp. Hon Ent. 4 (1825); Charp. Mon. Lib. Eur. 134,
t. 31 (1840); Kirby S}'n. Cat. Neur. Odon. 98 (1890).
Calcptcryx virgo, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi.

214 British Dragonflies.

79 (part) (1836). Callcptcryx virgo. Hag. S}'n. Lib.
Eur. 61 (1840). Caloptcryx I'irgo, Selys Rev. Odon.
134 (1850); Selys Syn. Cal. 13 (1853); Selys Mon.
Cal. 43 (1854); Hag. Ent. Ann. 55 (1857); McLach.
Cat. Brit. Neur. 15 (1870J. Lib. splcndeus, Harr. Expos.
Eng. Ins. 99, t. 30, f. 2 (1782). Lib. splcndco, Harr.
Expos. Eng. Ins. 99, t. 30, f. 4 (f. 5 ?; (1782). Calcp.
liidoviciana, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Aland, vi. 79
(1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 19, pi. 7, f 3, pi. 8,
f. I (1845). Calept. xantJiostoina, Steph. Illustr. Brit.
Ent. ]\Iand. vi. 80 (1836). Calept. auccps, Steph. Illustr.
Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 80 (1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 19,
pi. 9, f. I (1845). Agr. colchiciis, Eichwald Reise Casp.
Meere, i. {2) 272 (1837). Agr. vesta, Charp. Lib. Eur.
136, t. 32 (1840). Callept. vesta, Hag. S\'n. Lib. Eur.
62, (1840). Calept. Ihcmorrlioidalis, Evans Brit. Lib. 19,
pi. 8, f. 2, 3 (1845). Agr. /estiva (var) Brulle Exped.
Moree. IL (i). 103, t. 32, f. 5, 6.

Linnaeus' description.

L. alis erectis coloratis . . . (a). Libellula corpore sericeo
nitido, alis luteo-fuscis margine immaculatis . . . (/3).
Libellula corpore sericeo nitido, alis viridi-ca^rulescentibus
apice fuscis : margine immaculatis . . . (7). Libellula
corpore viridi-casruleo, alis subfuscis : puncto marginali
albo . . . (h). Libellula corpore sericeo nitido, alis
inaurato-fuscis : macula nigra. (C. Linna."us, " Svstema
Naturae", torn, i., 545, n. 17 (1758) . . . Libellula
virgo alis erectis coloratis . . . (a). Libellula corpore
sericeo nitido : alis luteo-fuscis : margine immaculatis.
Desck. Corpus mediaj magnitudinis, e cieruleo nitens,
sive atratum. AUc luteo-fusctu absque ullo punct(_) obscuro

Calopteryx. 2 1 5

ad marginem cxteriorcm alarum .... (/3). Libellula
corpora ca^ruleo nitido ; alis viridi-ca^rulescentibus : apice
fuscis ; margine iminaculatis. Descr. AUc, qua^ etiarn
puncto marginali carent, nigro-c;trulescente,s : apice
pallide fusc;t. Cauda uiiguiculata . . . (7). Libellula
corpore viridi-ca;rulco ; alis subfuscis : puncto marginali
albo. Descr. Corpus viridi-sericeum, nitidum, minima
c?eruleum. Pedes nigri. Ahu subfuscas puncto marginali
albicante oblongo. Cauda inermis. H;ec prajcedcntibus
fcemina. De Geer . . . (8). Libellula corpore sericeo
nitido ; alis inaurato-fuscis : macula nigra. Descr.
Corpus c;eruleo nitidum. Pedes nigri. AUc a medio
versus apices ca^rulescente nigrit ; ipsis apicibus aurato-
fuscis ; a medio ate versus ejus basin color inauratus,
nullum punctum marginale in hac. (C. Linnaeus, " Fauna
Suecica," pp. 374-5, n. 1470, 1761).

[LiniiKus here has made varieties of individuals of different age,
sex, and species, and so caused a considerable amount of confusion,
(a) is an immature male of C. virgo. {fi) is an adult male of the
same species. (7), as De Geer says, is a female of the same.
(5) appears to be an ailult male, C. splt'iidens.~\

Size.

Length of Male, 45mm. to 47-5 mm. ; expanse of
wings, 56"5mm. to 62mm. Length of Female, 43mm.
to 46mm. ; expanse of wings, 58"5mm. to 69mm.

Male Imago.

Head deep metallic blue ; margins of labrum and
labium blackish. Eyes rudd}', small, globular, distant.
Protliorax small, blue. Thorax blue, sometimes wath a
greenish tinge ; projections at insertion of wings, and
between them yellowish. Legs long, slender, black.

2i6 Britisli Dragonflies.

]Vi)igs broad at centre ; rich metallic blue, like the
rest of the insect (deep brown in some lii^hts; ; apex
and base brown and somewhat transparent ; meshwork
fine. Ptcrostigina absent. Abdouicu long, slender,
cylindrical, deep metallic blue ; a trifle swollen at
eighth and ninth segments. Aiuii appendages black ;
upper rather long, spiny, flattened, and approaching
posteriori)', turned slightl)' downwards ; lower appendages
shorter, flattened, approaching at tips, turned upwards.

Female Imago.

In the female the general ground-colour instead of
being blue is deep metallic green, which on the hinder
part of the abdomen changes to a decided coppery tint ;
a }'ellow mid-dorsal line extends along segments 8, 9,
and 10, the tenth being keeled. Wings narrower than
in the male ; in general russet, costal margin green.
Pterostiguia white, small, elliptical, about I mm. long.
Ovipositor sharp, as long as the ninth segment, sheaths
reaching to the end of the tenth. Anal appendages
short, sharp-pointed, conical.

Immature Colouring'.

In the i/iale the wings are at first russet, much as in
the female. Soon a smoky blue tint appears, and
ultimately they become deep blue. This change of
colour was a cause of much confusion amongst the
older writers. The female colouring is at first clear
russet, but becomes somewhat darker with age.

Variation.

Unlike most British Dragonflies, C. virgo is subject
to considerable variation. The chief forms are as follow :

Caloptcrvx. 217

a. The form of the male, in which the wings remain
of a russet tint, and in which the meshwork of the
wings is extreme!)' fine, has been named anceps
(Stephens) and vesta (Charpentier). It has on several
occasions been mentioned as occurring away from water
{e.g. E. M. M., 1 87 1, p. 87 and 161 ; 1884, p. 274;, which
would lead one to suppose that it was \(ixy immature ;
but still it may be that at times, and perhaps regularly
in certain localities, the male never does assume the
blue colouring to its wings ; in the latter case, the
form would constitute a distinct race. That the blue
pigment is at times undeveloped is certain, for the
author has a specimen, taken in. the New Forest, with
the right fore-wing russet and the other three of the
mature blue tint ; while the Re\'. J. E. Tarbat has one
with both fore-wings wanting the blue pigment.

/3. Males with smoky wings are almost certainly
alwax's half mature.

7. Often no russet colouring appears at the tip of
the hind-wings of the male, and it varies much in extent
at the tip of the fore-wings also.

5. The wings of the female, the hind ones especially,
are sometimes smok}' ; but this is perhaps only a sign
of age.

6. Not an uncommon form of the female has the
wings somewhat dark, especiall}- the hind ones, while
a much darker transverse band crosses the latter near
the apex ; the meshwork of the wings is usuall}' coarser.
Perhaps age may again have a great deal to do with
the dark colouring.

2i8 British Dnxgonflies.

^. The wings of the female sometimes have a greenish
tinge, causing them to resemble those of C. spleudcns to
some extent.

1). The pterostigma of the female \aries a little in
size and distinctness.

A Caloptcryx Q^^ is somewhat cylindrical, rounded at
one end, and having a point, perhaps of attachment, at
the other. It resembles Nos. 6 and 7 of Fig. 4.

Nymph.

It is difficult to separate the n}-mph of this species
from that of its congener, C. spleudcns, described on
p. 224, and illustrated at Fig. ^^j. The most reliable points
of distinction appear to be the more slender caudal
appendages, \\hich are also of nearly equal length. In
C. splcndcns the middle one is considerably shorter
than the others. In Science Gossip, September, 1894,
C. spleudcjis is figured with the appendages unhanded ; but,
as a matter of fact, there is little difference between the
two species in this respect. The raised plate on the
head, too, seems to fail as a distinguishing mark in the
empty n)"mph-case ; perhaps, however, in the lixing
nymph there may be sufficient difference in the head
to help to separate the species. Two dorsal smooth
marks on the segments of the abdomen are present in
both species, but in neither do they touch the hind-
margin of the segment. [A New Forest n)'mph-skin
and some young nymphs, presumabh- of this species
as C. splcndcns does not appear to exist in the
Forest.]

Calopteryx. 219

Date.

In the Xew Forest I ha^■e taken this species on May 7,
and also as late as August 18. On the first occasion
it was probably just coming on the wing, and on the
latter going o\er. These dates ma\' fairly be looked
upon as near the limits for the species. Mr. E. A. Fitch,
however, reports it as present in hundreds near the
source of the Essex and Suffolk Stour, on August 22, 1879,
(Entom, 1879, p. 288).

Habits.

C. z'iixo flies slowK' in an uncertain fluttering manner,
like some of the weak-flving butterflies, along the edges
of streams that are overgrown or fringed with bushes.
Gorgeous objects the males appear when thus
fluttering in the sunshine ; but at rest on a bush,
with their wings closed over their back, the\' are not
easily seen. When immature, at which time the wings
of the male ma\' be without the blue pigment, they
ma}' usual!}' be found away from the water (see E. M. M.,
1 87 1, p. 'Sj and 161 ; 1884, p. 274).

Distribution.

The following localities have been reported for
C. I'irgo : Pcrt/is/iiir : (A. M. Rodger). Clicsliirc :
Chester, banks of the Dee above Chester, and Eaton
(J. Arklej. Wales: North (J. Arkle;. Fliiitsliire :
Worthenbur}' (J. Arklej. McrionctlisJiirc : The banks
of the Dee, and by wooded streams (J. Arkle).
Cardiganshire : (J. Arkle). Yorkshire : Castle Howard
(G. T. Porritt) ; near Wakefield, former!}' (G. Parkin)
Woreestersliire : near Worcester and Trench Wood

220 Brit is Ji Dragonflics.

(J. E. Fletcher) ; W}'re Forest (R. C. Bradle}-;. Warivick-
sJiirc : Sutton Coldfield (R. C. Bradley) ; Birmingham
District (A. D. Imms). Oxfordshire : Brighthampton
(Mr. Stone's specimens in Oxford Museum). Corui^all :
Land's End (A. Ficklin). DcvoiisJiirc : L)'nmouth
(C. A. Briggs). Wiltshii-c : Savernake Forest (F. A.
Walker). HaiiipsJiirc : New Forest (W. J. L.) ; Pamber
Forest, near Basingstoke (A. H. Hamm). BcrksJiirc :
Windsor (F. A. Walker) ; Kennett, near Reading (A. H.
Hamm). S/irny : River Mole, near Leatherhead (W. J.
Ashdown) ; near Virginia Water (J. E. Tarbat) ; near
Farnham and Puttenham Common (E. B. Bishop).
Sussex: Horsham (H. J. Turner). Essex: Near Epping
(H. Doubleda}') ; near Colchester (W. H. Harwood).
Suffolk: Near the source of the Stour (E. A. Fitch).
Ireland: (De Seh's, "Rev. Odon.," p. 138). Guernsey:
(W. A. Luff).

27. Calopteryx splendens, Harr.

(Plate XX.)

Synonymy.

Libellulet splendens, Harr. Expos. Eng. Ins. 99, t. 30,
f. I, 3 (1782). Calopteryx splendens, Seh's Rev.
Odon. 138 (1850); Selys Syn. Cal. 12 (1853;; Selys
Mon. Cal. 36 (1854) ; Hag. Ent. Ann. 55 (1857) ;
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 15 (1870). Agrion splendens,
Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 97 (1890). Libellula
splendeo, Harr. Expos. Eng. Ins. 99, t. 30, f. 5 (?)
(1782). Libellula virgo, Linn. Syst. Nat. i., 545, n. 17,

Calopteiyx. 221

var. 8 (175S) ; Linn. Faun. Suec. 374, n. 1470, var. S
(1761). Agn'oii 7'i/-go, Fabr. Syst. Entom. 425 (part),
(1775). Aoi-/oii xanthostoiiia, Charp. Hor. Ent. 5 (1825J ;
Charp. Lib. Eur. 139 (1840). Calcptcryx virgo, Steph.
Illustr. Brit. Ent. ALancl. vi. 79, vars. a and 7 (1836) ;
Evans Brit. Lib. 18, \)\. 7, f. i, 2. Caloptcryx ludoviciana,
Seh'S Mon. Lib. \\v\x. 131 (1840J. Callcptcryx liidoviciana,
Hag. S\'n. Lib. Eur. 64 (1840). Agrion parthcnias,
Charp. Lib. Eur. 137, t. H (1840). Caloptcryx ancilla,
Selys Syn. Cal. 13 (var.) (1853). Caloptcryx tanrica,
Sely.s S}-n. Cal. 13 (var.) (1853).

Harris' description.

Libclliila splciidcus. V'\'g- i. Measures nearly 2in. The
Iicad, thorax, and abdomen are of a most beautiful green.
The /c';'.v are black. The uiiigs are finely reticulated,
and ha\e in each a large dark brown cloud, about the
size of a finger-nail, which in some directir)ns appear [sic.')
of a lovely deep blue. The libclla, at Fig. 2, is only to
shew a variation, or sport, of Nature (which, in the libcllas.
is common with her), as they are both of one species, and
of the same sex. These are females. The male is seen
at Fig. 3 ; it is entirely of a fine green, except the legs,
which are black. The ivings look like green gauze.
(M. Harris' " Exposition of English Lisects," p. 99,
Tab. XXX., Figs, i, 2, 3, 1782).

[Here Harris has not only reversed the sexes, but Fig. 2 is a
male C. virgo. Following this desciiption is another of the insects
which he names sj>te/tdcv. It is as follows : " SpteitdL-o. Fig. 4.
Measures near 2in. The head, tJiorax, and abdoiuni are of a hne, deep
blue green. The -ci/igs are of a tawnv brown. The ma/e at 5
is of a beautiful yellow green, having a white speck near the end
of each wing. . . . These, and the former, on account of their
brilliancy and richness of colours, are vulgarly called Kingfishers.

222 British Dragonflies.

They frequent little rivulets, or ditches of running water, that are
overshaded by bushes by bank sides." Fig. 4 is probably a male,
as the white " speck " is not mentioned, and the appendages
appear to be those of a male ; the body, however, looks like that
of a female. In the case of Fig. 5, the brown wings seem to
point to a female virgo, but the description appears to suit a female
splcndens.'\

Size.

Length of Male, 44"5mm. to 47'5mm. ; expanse of
wings, 56mm. to 65mm. Length of Female, 43mm. to
46mm. ; expanse of wings, 64mm. to 66mm.

Male Imago.

Head bright metalHc bhie ; labrum and rhinarium
brown ; labium black. Ryes distant, spherical, reddish.
Ocelli conspicuous. Prothorax of fair size, blue. T/iorax
blue, with a greenish tinge in places, a few projections
between the wings and at their insertion )-ellowish.
Legs long, slender, black. IVings hx-aline, with a large
elliptical dark opaque patch, blue in some lights,
extending from the costa to the hind-margin of the wings,
and considerably nearer the apex than the base.
Pterostigina absent. Abdomen long, slender, of about
uniform thickness throughout, bright blue, generally
with a greenish tinge towards the extremit}-. Anal
appendages bluntly terminated ; upper incurved at the
tip and there flattened, black ; lower shorter, straight,
black above, pale below.

Female Imago.

Metallic green takes the place of the blue of the male,
this colour being tinged with a copper}- tint towards the
extremity of the abdomen. The tenth segment has a

Calopteryx. 223

mid-dorsal }"cllo\vish raised line, terminating; in a
posterior point ; this line is continued but not raised on
the ninth, and sometimes part of the eighth, segment.
Wings of a uniform pale yellowish-green, transparent,
of about the same width as those of the male.
Ptcrostigiiia white, near the tip of the \\"ing. Anal
appendages short, flattened, pointed, black. Ovipositor
about as long as the ninth segment ; genital valves
reaching a little bc}X)nd it.

Distinction from C virgo.

The males present no difficult}-, but the females often
bear a close resemblance to one another. In C. splendens
the pterostigma is nearer the tip of the wings, which
ha\'e a greenish tinge (brownish in C. X'irgo usuall}'),
and the reticulation is usualh' coarser than in the
preceding species.

Immature Colouring.

In }^oung specimens, the elliptical blue patch appears
as a faint brownish cloud, which gradualh' deepens, and
ultimatel}- attains a blue reflection as maturit}' is
reached.

Variation.

In the British Isles this species does n.ot seem subject
to much variation. Mr. McLachlan once exhibited at
the Entomological Society of London a female taken in
France, in which the left fore-wing was coloured as in
the male, the corresponding right wing haxing also a
few browni dashes.'^ De Selys ("Revue," p. 141) speaks

' E. M. AL, i.SOs, p. lOS.

224

Br it is] I Dragonflies.

of females having occurred in Prussia with wings
coloured as in the male. He also describes northern and
southern forms which occur on the Continent, and
which he considers are due to ditTerence of climate. In
Britain the northern form is found.

Fig. 37. — Nymph of Calopteryx splendens.
(X 2.)

Egg-
See Calopteryx virgo (page 2i8j.

Nymph (Fig. zj)-
Body warm brown, but not of a uniform tint (a female
bred 1898 was very pale); long and slender; length.

Calopteryx. 225

including" anal appendages, but not antennae, about
32mm. ; greatest breadth — at the meso-thorax — 4mm.
Head small, roughly pentagonal, with all the corners
rounded ; width about 4mm. AntcniKC 6"5mm. long ;
seven-jointed, basal joint stout and longer than other
six together ; six distal joints, slender and gradually-
decreasing in size to the seventh, which is very small
and pointed. I\Iask extending to the insertion of the
mid-legs ; ver}" narrow at the joint, but suddenly
expanding about half-wa}- to the tip; the palpi and
middle lobe closing up to form a spoon-shaped covering
to the face, and projecting as a blunt point in the
front of the head ; middle lobe deepl}- divided into
two long pieces, rounded at the end, and each bearing
one bristle some distance behind the end ; palpi long,
terminating in three sharp points, and having about
three bristles near the base of the long, sharp, movable
hook. Eyes small, and not conspicuous, situated at the
lateral corners of the head. Ocelli consjDicuous, pale.
Occiput of fair size, front- and hind-margins almost
straight, and nearly parallel. Prothorax rather large,
dark brown laterally, with a central, squarish pale
l)atch. Thorax dark brown, with a central pale patch
continuous with that on the prothorax. ]Vi)ig-cases
about 7mm. long, rounded at tip, costal margin rather
pale. I^'^'g^ long and slender, pale ; femora and
tibiai each with three brown rings, some being more
conspicuous than others ; length of fore-legs about
13mm., of mid-legs i8mm., of hind-legs i9-5mm. Abdo-
iiieii tapering gradually to the anal extremit)', brown,
lighter at the sutures, and along three lines — one mid-
dorsal and two lateral — the dorsal one bearing a dark

226 British Dragonflies.

streak on the basal part of each segment except the
tenth ; outside the lateral lines the ground-colour is a
little darker ; on each side of the mid-dorsal pale line
on each segment is a small dark spot, and there are
four similar ones on the dorsal part of each suture.
Lateral aual appendages three-edged, 12mm. long ; middle
one flat, 8mm. long ; all with about three dark bands,
[udging from the small size of some specimens captured
in the spring, this species must be more than a year
reaching maturity. The nymphs should be sought for
at the roots of reeds, and it would seem where the
bottom is rather muddy. When resting on the weeds
in confinement they are very difficult to see, and look
like little pieces of decaying stems or broken sticks.
They often rest flat on the mud, with their legs close
to their sides, everything then being in longitudinal
lines, e\en including the pale markings on head and
thorax, and on the edges of the wing-cases. In this
position they put one in mind of stick-like water-bugs.
The appendages are often kept closed together, or
nearly so. [Described from Surrey specimens.]

Date.

Towards the middle of May this species begins to
appear on the wing in Surrey, the earliest date noticed
being May 10. Thence it continues till quite the end
of July, and a female was captured in Berkshire as late
as August 19, in 1897. It is usually at its best in
June.

Habits.

Whilst C. virgo appears to frequent the low bushes
tliat overhang the streams, C. splendens seems to prefer

Calopiejyx. 227

the rank herbage that grows along their margins. As
these two conditions do not usually obtain in connection
with the same stream, this is perhaps one reason why
the two species are seldom found together.* Like its
congener it is fond of running water, and does not fre-
quent stagnant ponds. The flight of the two insects is
similar also, being weak, and seldom sustained for many
yards. These Dragonflies rest with wings closed over
their backs amongst the low herbage near the banks of
the stream the\- haunt.

Migration.

Though no migration of this species seems to have
been recorded, it often wanders some distance from
its haunts, and when so wandering its flight is by
no means weak.

Distribution.

North of Yorkshire this species does not seem to
have been recorded. Localities are : YorksJiirc : Castle
Howard (G. T. Porritt) ; Newton-on-Ouse (G. C. Dennis)-
Cheshire : Chester (J. Arkle) ; Ince Marshes (J. Arkle).
Wales: North {]. Arkle). Warivickshire : Hockley
Heath (A. D. LnmsJ. Woreestershire : Near Worcester
(J. E. Fletcher). Shropshire : Wyre Forest (R. C.
Bradley). Sfafforeishire : Cannock Chase. Hereford-
shire: Near Symond's Yat (W. J. L.). Oxfordshire:
Brighthampton (Mr. Stone's specimens in Oxford
Museum) ; Yarnton (H. R. Smith's specimens in Oxford

* Entom., iii., p. 182; "Naturalist," April, 1897.

() 2

228 Brit is Ji Dragonflies.

Museum). HainpsJiirc : Shavvford, near Winchester
(W. J. Ashdown). Berkshire: Thames, at Windsor
(F. A. Walker) ; near Eynsham fW. J. L.) ; Thames,
near Nuneham (M. Burr) ; Maidenhead (G. T. Porritt) ;
Reading (A. H. Hamm) ; Sulhampstead (E. B. Poulton).
Surrey : Mole at Esher, near Byfleet, Wisle}-, Newark
Abbey, Ockham Common (wanderers), near Wey-
bridge, Esher Common (wanderers), and near Send
(W. J. L.) ; White Falls, Leatherhead (C. A. Briggs);
near Farnham (E. B. Bishop). Middlesex : Park (G. T.
Porritt). Essex : Near Epping (H. DoUbleday) ; Col-
chester (W. H. Harwood). Cambridgeshire : Littleport
(C. A. Briggs). NottiitghaiiisJiire : Thorney Dyke (J. K.
Morton). Leiiisfer : Twy Laogh (J. J. F. X. Kingl
Munster : Denough River (J. J. Y. X. King); Skib-
bereen (J. J. Wolfe). Connaught : Carrowbeg River and
Mackree Castle {]. J. F. X. King).

28. Lestes dryas, Kirby.

(Plate XXI.)
Synonymy.

Lestes dryas, Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. i6o (1890).
Lestes nympha, Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 141 (1840); Selys
Rev. Odon. 151 (1850); Hag. Ent. Ann. 57 (1857);
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 16 (1870). Lestes foreipnla
Ramb. Ins. Nr\r. 247 (1842).

Plate XXI.

Lestes dryas

(X 2).

Lestes sponsa

(X 2).

Lestes. 229

De Selys' description.

De Selys compares the insect with L. spoiisa, but does
not at the time consider it a distinct species.
" A part les differences de taille ; ils offrent les characteres
suivants : — Male adultc. II est a pen pres saupoudre de
poussiere bleue comme cekii de la spoisa, mais toutes
les parties vert-bronzees sont fortement cuivrees au lieu
d'etre d'un vert pur. Le parastigma semble moins
allonge ou du moins plus large que dans la spcnisa et le
diametre des ailes peut-etre plus grand en proportion.
Tel est I'individu dont j'ai fait figurer les appendices
anals ; mais je dois faire remarquer que la difference
que les appendices inferieures presentent peut tenir a
une monstruosite individuelle, puisqu' elle ne consiste
qu'en plus de courbure I'un vers I'autre et en plus
d'epaisseur ; ce qui peut se produire facilement lorsqu'il
s'agit de corps mous comme ceux-ci. . . . Fevielle.
Semblable a celle de la spoj/sa. Le parastigma peut-
etre un peu moins allonge. L'abdomen plus epais ainsi
que le diametre de la tete. Les valvules de la lame
cornee plus grandes, non dentelees. (E. De Selys-
Longchamps, " Monographic des Libellulidees d'Europe,"
p. 141, 1840.;

[De Selys' name — nympha — cannot stand, for it had already been
used by Stephens for an insect that there is little doubt was really
a female sponsa, and De Selys therefore should not have ajiplied it
to another species. Rambur's name — forcipula — is not availalile for
the same reason, Charpentier havin<;, in 1825, bestowed it on sponsa.']

Size.

Length of Male, 36mm. ; expanse of wings 45mm.
Length of Female, 35-5mm. ; expanse of wings, 48mm.
[From two Cambridgeshire specimens.]

2:;0

British Dragonfiics.

Male Imago.

Lower part of the face yellowish ; labium orange ; head
chiefl}' bronze-green. Eyes blue. P rot ho rax, powdered
with blue ; hind-margin straight. Thorax bronze-green
above, powdered with blue below ; projections between
wings and at their attachments blue. Wli/gs large and
broad. Pterostio-jiia black, broad, long, extending over
two or more cellules of the series below. Legs black,
with a yellow line on the femora. Abdoi/ieu bronze-green,
in some parts with a coppery tint ; but the first, ninth,
and tenth segments are powdered with blue, while the
second is partly so ; yellowish below, powdered with

blue along the centre ; sutures
..^i yellow. Anal appendages black :

'^^^■^ their shape will be best under-

stood from Fig. ^,'6.

-^t*^-'

Female Imago.

This difters from the male in
that it is shorter and much
stouter ; on the thorax orange-
8. —Anal Append- yellow takes the place of blue.
Abdomen is much tinged with a
coppery sheen, especially on seg-
ments 8 to the end. There is
no blue on the upper surface ;
but the sutures and part of the first segment are
yellowish-orange. JFings longer and broader than in
the male. Ovipositor and genital valz'es very conspicuous,
and extending slightly beyond the tenth segment-
Anal appendages short, conical, pointed, black.

Fig

AGES OF LeSTES DRVAS

(Male). Viewed erom

ABOVE.

(After Hagen, in De Selys'
" Revue des Odonates.")

Lesti's.

231

Distinction from Lestes sponsa.

L. dry as. L. sponsa.

1. General appearance stouter. i. Appearance more blender.

2. Wings longer and broader tlian

in L. sponsa.

3. Pterostigma long and broad. 3. Pterostigma long and ratiier

narrow.

4. Bronze spot on first segment, 4. Corners of spot decidedly rounded.

divided in centre, and square at (t ig- 40).

anterior corners. (Fig. 40).

5. Anal appendages of female black. 5. Appendages to a great extent

yellow.
0. Yellow ring at sutures generally d. Rings usually complete.

interrupted dorsally.
7. Anal appendages of male as in 7. Anal appendages as in Fig. 39.

Fig. 38- '

Immature Colouring'.

In immature specimens the pterostigma is \-ello\vish.
The blue powder is at first absent from tlie males, and
only appears gradually.

Nymph.

Brauer describes the n}^mph of L. iiyinpJia ( --=■- diyas)
as follows : " Maske sehr lang, schmal, bis zwischen die
Hinterbeine reichend ; die funf vorletzten Hinterleibs
segmente zeigen einen kurzen, geraden seitenstachel ;
kiemen lang, breit " (Brauer and Low, " Neuroptera
Austriaca," p. xvi., 1857). Translation : " Mask very
long, slender, reaching as far as between the hind-
legs ; the last five segments but one of the abdomen
have a short, straight, lateral spine ; lamella; long and
broad." [This description is generic rather than specific ;
it will apply equally well to L. spotisai\

BritisJi Dyagonflies.

Date.

In Belgium, this Dragonfly is on the wing from the
end of June to the beginning of August. In some
parts of Europe it continues to the end of September
(De Selys). In England, Mr. Morton has taken it in
July and August ; while Mr. King's - immature Irish
specimen was captured on June 27.

Distribution.

A {qw }'ears since it was doubted whether L. dryas
really existed in Britain, and to-day but few localities
can be given for the species. Mr. Morton took it at
Thorney, in Cambridgeshire, in 1893, and commonly in
1897 ; while he thinks it occurred in the same county
at Knarr h'en Dykes in the former year. In 1891, Mr.
C. A. Briggs took one female near Leigh, in Essex. If
we add to this Mr. J. J. F. X. King's capture of a
specimen on the Shannon towards Lough Ree, near
Athlone, in 1894, the list of undoubted records is
exhausted. In Doubleday's Epping List of 1871, how-
ever, we find it given as rare on Coopersale Common ;
but one cannot help thinking that there is some con-
fusion amongst Doubleday's species of Lcstes.

29. Lestes Sponsa, Hansem.

^Plate XX I.J
Synonymy.

Agrioii sponsa, Hansem. Wiedem. Zool. Mag. ii. (1) 159

(1823). Lestes sponsa, Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 140 (1840):

Selys Rev. Odon. 154 (1850); Hag. Ent. Ann. 57 (1857) ;

Lesti's. 233

McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 16 (1870); Kirby Syn. Cat.
Neur. Odon. 160 (1890). Lcsics ujnnpJia, Steph. Illustr.
Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. "jj (1836); (?) Evans Brit. Lib.
18 (1845). Agrion forcipiila, Charp. Hor. Ent. 6
(1825) ; Charp. Lib. Eur. 141, t. 34, f. 1,2 (1840). Lestes
forcipitla, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi., y^ (1836);
Evans Brit. Lib. 18, pi. 6, f. 4 (1845). Agrion picteti,
Fonsc. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. vii., 557, t. 13, f. 4 (1838).
Agrion spcctridit, Kol. Bull. Mosc. xxix. (^4) 501 (1856).

Hansemann's description.

" A. alis patulis petiolatis hyalinis, stigmatibus oblongis
nigris, capite immaculato, thorace supra viridi, maris
immaculato, fctminai subtrilineato." Then follows a
long account of the insect in German. (J. W. A.
Hansemann, "Wiedemann's Zoologisches Magazin," vol. ii.,
p. 159, 1823;.

Size.

Length of Male, 37mm. to 39mm. ; expanse of wings,
40mm. to 44mm. Length of Female, 3 5 "5 to 39mm. ;
expanse of wings, 43mm. to 47mm.

Male Imago.

Face yellow ; top of head between the eyes dark
green, below bluish ; ocelli conspicuous. Eyes blue.
Prothorax powdered with blue ; two large bronze-green
spots on the dorsal surface. Thorax bronze-green above,
powdered with blue below ; between the wings also
powdered with blue. Legs black, except under side of
femora, which is }'ellowish. Wings hyaline, rather closely
meshed. Ptcrostigina rather narrow, long, almost black.

234

British Dragonflies.

Abdomen slender ; segments i, 2, 9, and 10 blue above
and below ; the rest bronze-green above ; brownish below,
dark along centre. Anal appendages black ; upper some-
what flattened, turned in at tip, with two strong
internal indentations ; lower straight, flattened at tip,

not dilated. The shape of the
appendages will be best seen
from Fig. 39.

Female Imag'o.

The general bronze - green
colour has a distinct copper}-
tinge, often very pronounced.
Eyes greenish. P rothorax and
underside of rest of thorax dull
orange. Between the wings
orange. Legs brown, with a
black line. ]Vi)igs with a faint
yellowish-brown tinge. Abdomen
brownish-yellow at the sides and below, with a dark
line along the middle of the ventral surface ; on the
dorsal surface large bronze spots, which cover all but
the sutures ; first seg-
ment with a bronze-green
twin spot rounded off at
the anterior corners (Fig.
40) ; eleventh segment
small, brownish -yellow.
A nal appendages short,

pointed, brownish. Ovipositor and 7'ak'es dark, reachin
to end of tenth segment and curved upwards at ti|).

Fig. 39. — Anal Append-
ages OF Lestes sponsa
(Male).

(After Hagen, in De Selys'
"Revue des Odonates.")

Fig. 40. — Bronze spot on Seg-
ment I OF Lestes.

((, dryas.

b. sponsa.

Lestes. 235

Immature Colouring".

Till the blue powder appears, the male resembles the
female in colour ; and at that time the twin green spot
on segment i is visible, and assists in distinguishing
this species from. L. d/yas. The pterostigma is yellowish.

Variation.

This species does not appear to be subject to much
variation.

Oviposition.

Mr. P. Calvert states * that Von Siebold saw the
female descend below the surface of the water, as seems
to be customary with the genera Agn'oii and Enallagnia ;
but in this case the male accompanied the female below
the surface. The dirt)- appearance often presented by
the abdomen of the female suggests oviposition in the
mud.

Nymph.

Length, including caudal lamelhe, 26- 5mm., icidtJi ot
abdomen, 2'25mm. Head a flattened pentagon ; narrow
from front to back ; about 35 mm. across transversel}'.
Eyes large ; apparentl>- hemispherical when entire ;
situated at the fore lateral corners of the head. Aiitenme
seven-jointed ; very long ; basal two joints stout, next
more slender, distal four very slender. Mask ladle-shaped ;
stem very fine, then suddenl}- swelling out near the end
to a spoon shape ; extending to the insertion of the
hind-legs ; long hairs in a line broken in two on bod}'

* Transactions of Amer. Ent. Soc, xx. p. \i

236 Bntisli Dj-agonjiies.

of mask ; a row also near the outer margin of each
palpus, all but one being on the movable hook, which
is slender, sharp, and curved in at the point ; middle
lobe of mask produced in an obtuse angle, cleft in the
centre and serrated along margin ; palpi distinctly two-
branched, the inner being serrated along inner margin
and having an incurved hook at the tip ; the outer branch
with a sharp hook at the two corners and a small row
of serrations between ; the mask as a whole approaches
somewhat that of genus Calopteryx. Occiput appa-
rently rather narrow ; a little concave behind ; sides
sloping backwards ; hind corners rough with points.
Protliorax somewhat quadrilateral in shape, broader
behind ; Aleso-t/ionnic spiracle's visible, dark. TJiorax
with a few scattered rough points. Wing-cases short,
5"5mm., barely reaching the fourth segment. Legs
slender ; fore-legs, /•5mm. long, mid- 9-5 mm., hind-
12mm. ; lines of rough points along them ; a somewhat
distal dark ring on femora ; distal ends of femora,
tibiai, and tarsal joints dark. Abdomen^ fifth to ninth
segments with small, straight, lateral spines ; upper
surface with numerous dark points, very much closer
together in a raised ridge along middle of segments
9 and 10, which last has a ring of points on its hind-
margin ; a mid-dorsal pale line along the abdomen ;
sutures, except between 9 and 10, dark, and having a
still darker spot on each side (jf the pale line, and
another near the lateral margin. LanielUv very long,
nearly lomm. ; rounded at tip ; broadest near the base,
then more or less parallel ; middle one a trifle broader,
curved downwards at tip ; in colour much resembling
a thin lamina of tcjrtoise-shell, the dark blotches being

Lt'sti's. 237

arranged roughly in three bands ; some specimens have
paler lamellae, these perhaps being females ; margins
provided all round with short spines ; lamelLt seem
rather thick and easily divided into two layers ; there
seem to be no proper trachea;, except perhaps a medial
one. Are the lamella; used for breathing? [Described
from empty nymph-cases obtained on Ockham Common,
when the insect was emerging. The colour was pale
russet-brown ; what it was in the living nymph I
cannot sa\'.]

Date.

About the middle of JuK' this species usualh' begins
to appear, though De Selys gives June for the British
Isles, and Mr. C. \V. Dale records it for North Uist, in
the Hebrides, in the same month. It is plentiful in
August and September ; while the author took it in
Surrey as late as October 2, in 1898.

Habits.

Flying low amongst the herbage by the sides of
ditches and ponds, this abundant little Dragonfly is not
very conspicuous. Unlike the Agrioiiidcc genera! h', it
rests with its wings half open.

Distribution.

Though this species is in all probabilit}- well dis-
tributed in the British Isles, records of its occurrence
are by no means numerous. Yorkshire : Thorne, and
Strensall Common (G. T. Porritt). Cheshire: Delamere
Forest district (J. Arkle;. Cambridgeshire : Everywhere
common (K. J. Morton) ; Littleport (C. A. Briggs).

238 British Dragoiiflics.

Suffolk: (Evans Brit. Lib., p. 18). Essex: Near Epping
fH. Doubleday) ; Dudden Hill and Wanstead Park
(F. A. Walker). Kent: Deal (C. G. Hall); Sandwich
( W. J. L.). Slimy : Ockham Common, near Elstead,
Esher Common, one (W. J. L.) ; Wendlesham (J. E
Tarbat). Sussex: Winchelsea Marshes (W. J. L.) ; Shore-
ham (H. J. Turner). Hampshire : New Forest (W. J. L.)
near Lymington (S. A. Blinkarn) ; Bournemouth (R. C
Bradley). Iiivcniess-shire : North Uist (C. W. Dale)
Strathglass (J. J. F. X. King). Argyllsiiire : Near
Dalmally, common, and Ledaig (J. J. F. X. King)
Ulster : Near Glasslough, Co. Monaghan, common (K. J
Morton). JMiinster : Kilbrean Laogh (J. J. F. X. King)

30. Platycnemis pennipes. Pall.

(Plate XX H.)
Synonymy.

Libella pennipes, Pall. Reisem. i. 469 (1771). Platye-
/leiiiis pennipes, SeXys Rev. Odon. 168 (1850); Hag. Ent.
Ann. 56 (1857); McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 16 (1870);
Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon. 129 (1890). Agrion platy-
poda, Lind. Opusc. Scient. iv. 102, n 4, t. 3, f. 4 (1823) ;
Lind. Mon. Lib. Eur. 2>7 (1825) ; Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent.
Mand. vi. 76 (1836); Selys Mon. Lib. Plur. 148 (1840).
Platycnemis platypoda, Evans Brit. Lib. 17, pi. vi., f. i, 2
(1845). Agrion lacteum, Charp. Hor. Ent. 11 (1825);
Charp. Lib. Eur. 165, t. 43, f. 2 (1840). Pnella nitidula,
Brullc P^xped. Moree ii. (i) 105, t. 32, f. 8 (1832). Agricn
piiella, var. P'abr. Spec. Ins. i., 528, n. 2 (1781).

Plate XX 1 1.

Platycnemis pennipes

( •: 2).

Erythromma naias

(X 2).

PUxtyciicuiis. 239

Pallas' description.

Forma et inagjiitudo Libell.t Puelhe. Thorax fasciatus,
ut in eadem. Caput fascia et striga transversa inter
oculos ; ceteroquin corpus albissimum, levissime rubicundo
vel ccerulescente varians. Abdomen subtus linea longi-
tudinali atra, quibusdam triplicata ; accedente etiam
dorsali, magis minusve interrupta. Pedum femora
bilineata, utrinque ciliata ; tibiiv dilatatai, ciliisque sub-
pennatai, albs, rhachi lineari nigra. Ahe hyalina:^, areola
versus apicem fusco-lutescente. (P. S. Pallas, " Reisen
durch verschiedene Provinzen des Riissischen Rciches in
den Jahren, 1768-74," vol. i., p. 469, 1771-76.J

Size.

Length of Male, 36mm. to 37mm. ; expanse of wings
43mm. to 46mm. Length of P'emale, 36mm. to 38'5mm. ;
expanse of wings, 45mm. to 48mm.

Male Imago.

Head, face blue, but labrum and labium }-ellowish ;
top of frons and of head black, with a blue interrupted
line across the latter in the region of the front ocellus ;
occiput greenish-blue. Eyes blue. Prothorax greenish
below, black above with greenish lines. Rest of thorax
pale green below ; above black with two longitudinal
green lines on each side ; projections at the attachment
of the wings and between them bluish-green. Legs
whitish-blue, with a dark line along the upper surface ;
tibiae much dilated and fringed with black hairs. Wings
hyaline. Pterostigma small, brown. Abdomen pale blue,
spotted with black, and with black sutures between the

240 British Dragoiiflics

segments ; on segment i the spot is squarish, with pro-
jections at the anterior corners ; on 2 to 5 a longitudinal
rectangular spot, with a projection on each side near the
distal end ; often these spots almost or entirely disappear,
the projections being the last to go, but that on 2 does
not go so readil}^ as the others ; specimens are found at
all intermediate stages. On 6 a mid-dorsal spot, in-
creasing in width from the base ; on 7 to 10 the black
spot almost fills each segment ; the dorsal carina is
sometimes blue on most segments, and is generall}' so on
6, 7, and 8, and it swells into a spot on 9 and 10 ; there
are also some small lateral black spots. A^ial appendages,
upper triangular, blue ; lower cylindrical, blue at base,
then produced into a sharp black incurved point.

Female Imag"o.

Stouter than male, which, however, it resembles in
most respects. The blue gives place to yellow with a
greenish tinge. Pterostignia yellow. Tenth segment of
abdomen unspotted, and ninth nearly so. Anal
appendages triangular, short, greenish-yellow. Ovipositor
reddish, slender, sharp, curved upwards at tip, as long
as the ninth segment. ]'alvcs a little longer, }-ello\vish.

Variation.

In the description of the male the great variation
in the dorsal spots has been referred to. When the
carina is of the ground-colour, the spots appear as two
parallel lines ; it is this form apparently that De Sel>-s
names var. bilineata. This Dragonfly \^aries also in the
ground-colour, which is sometimes white or whitish, the
spots being reduced at the same time. This form has

Platyciicmis. 241

received the varietal name lactca, as well as others
indicative of its pale colour,

Oviposition.

On one occasion in the New Forest a pair was noticed,
united per coUiuii, resting on a yellow water-lily blossom.
The female was moving the extremity of her abdomen
along the surface of the stem, and no doubt inserting
eggs in it, but they could not be found. If the female
was ovipositing, the eggs would have been above the
water till the seed-pod of the lil}- bent down to the
surface.

Nymph.

General colour yellowish-brown, with darker brown
markings. Loigth, including caudal lamellae, about 20mm.,
ividtJi of abdomen about 2'i5mm. //(V?^/ pentagonal ; rather
large ; about 3mm. transversely, a little less longitudinally ;
a few darker markings on the top. Eyes rather large ;
hemispherical, situated at the fore lateral corners of the
head. Antejincc rather long and conspicuous ; seven-
jointed, basal two stout, rest slender and darker, except
near the sutures. Mask of the y^^/'/c/z-shape, extending
to the insertion of the fore-legs ; four long hairs on body
of mask in a straight transverse line ; three near the margin
of each palpus ; middle lobe produced in an obtuse angle,
margin serrated ; palpi bifid, inner division with a sharp
point and serrated inner margin, outer division with a
few serrations at end ; movable hook rather small, slen-
der, sharp, Oeeipnt rather narrow ; slightly concave
behind ; corners with rough points ; two dark .spots in

R

242 British Dragoufiics.

middle ; light dots on surface. ProtJwrax fairly large ;
produced laterally into a point ; colour dark at sides
and down centre, the mid-dorsal line, however, light.
Thorax small, with brown markings, on which are some
pale dots. Legs, length of fore-legs about 7.5mm.,
mid- 9'25mm., hind- iimm. ; with longitudinal lines
of rough points ; two darker rings on femora and tibia; ;
darker also at or near distal end of joints, especiall}-
extreme joint of tarsus ; with a few faint, scattered
hairs. Wing-cases about 5mm., reaching about to the
end of the fifth segment. Abdomen, posterior angles of
segments projecting considerably, and 5 to 9 possessing
a short spine ; colour pale down centre and along
lateral margins, darker between, the darker part bearing
tiny pale spots ; on each side of pale mid-line a basal
dark line, reaching half-way along the segment, absent
from 10; in middle of pa!e line a fine dark one, most
conspicuous at base of segments ; sutures with dark
spots ; hind-margin of 10 surrounded by a ring of
points. Caudal lanielliB long, 7*5 mm. ; lanceolate, ending
in a long slender point ; with scattered hairs on margin,
longer near the apex ; middle lamella apparently a
little the broader ; all lightly spotted and with central
trachea and lateral branches. [Described from a single
nymph which disclosed a female |on July 10, 1899.
It was taken in the New Forest on June 4.]

Date.

June 4, is the earliest date on which I have noticed
this species, and the latest August 19. It is common
in the New Forest in the betrinning of August.

Platyoiciitis. 243

Habits.

Judging from the localities in which I have m}'self
taken this Dragonfly, it seems to like moving water
rather than ponds or stagnant ditches. On the wing
the blue males resemble A. puclhx, A. piilclicllniii,
A. mcrcurialc, or E. cycitJiigcnim, and the\' fly in a similar
manner, but they may generally be seen to be a
trifle larger than most specimens of the four species
just mentioned, and, when approached more closely, a
little lighter in tint. The females and whitish males
ma}', of course, be easiU' distinguished, as they look quite
pale upon the wing. Mr. C, A. Briggs has noticed
that P. pciiuipcs is sometimes found far from water.

Distribution.

But few localities have been recorded for this interesting
species, and all of them in the middle or south of
England. WorccstcrsJiirc : Worcester, common (G. T.
Porritt). ]Var-LK.ncksJiirc : Near Earlswood (W. H. Bath,
Nat. Gazcttc,\i. 51, 1891). OxfordsJiire : Brighthampton
(Mr. Stone's specimens in Oxford Museum). DevoiisJiire :
(Evans Brit. Lib., p. 17). Dorsetshire: (W. H. Bath,
" Handbook," p. 75). Haiipsliirc : New Eorest, common
(W. J. L.). Berkshire: Near Eynsham (W. J. L.).
Surrey : Esher Common, one, and Newark Abbey near
Ripley, common (W. J. L.) ; Ockham Common, sparingly,
Mickleham Downs, and near Cobham (C. A. Briggs).
Kent : (Evans Brit. Lib., p. 17). JMiddlesex : River Lea
at Park fG. T. Porritt). Essex: Epping (C. A. Briggs).
Norfolk: (W. H. Bath, "Handbook," p. 75).

2^4 Brztis/i Dragoiijfics.

31. Erythromma naias, Hansem.

(Plate XXII.)
Synonymy.

Agrion naias, Hansem. Wiedem. Zool. Mag. ii. (i) 15S
(1823); Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 151 (1840); Selys Rev.
Odon. 177 (1850); Hag. Ent. Ann. 58 (1857).
Erythromma naias, Selys Bull. Acad. Belg. (2) xli. 1302
(1876); McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 16 (1870); Kirby Syn.
Cat. Neur. Odon. 152 (1890); Agrion analis, Lind. Mon.
Lib. Eur. 40, n. 10 (1825). Agrion cJiloridion, Charp.
Hon Ent. 14, t. i. f. 21 (1825) ; Charp. Lib. Eur. 148, t.
37, upper Fig. (1840); Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand.
vi. 75, n. 12 (1836).

Hansemann's description.

A. alis erectis petiolatis hyalinis, earum interstitio Iste
coeruleo, stigmatibus rhombeis fuscis, capite immaculato^
thorace maris supra immaculate, foeminai subbilineato.
Then follows a lengthy account of the insect in German.
(J. W. A. Hansemann, " Zoologisches Magazin," Heraus-
gegeben von Dr. C. R. W. Wiedemann, p. 158, 1823).

Size.

Length of Male, 34-5 to 35-5mm. ; expanse of wings,.
43mm. to 44-5mm. Length of Female, 35mm. to
35*5mm. ; expanse of wings, 46mm. to 47mm.

Male Imago.
Head, Face reddish-brown ; nasus and frons black,
the two separated by a reddish-brown line ; top of head
and occiput black. Eyes red. ProtJiorax black above>.

Eiythroiinna. 245

reddish-brown below. Thorax black abo\e, powdered
with blue below ; sides bluish, with two black stripes ;
projections at insertion of wings, and between them blue.
Legs black ; underside of femora and coxa:; yellowish-
brown. Wings hyaline. Ptcrostignia small, rhomboidal,
brown. Abdomen, segments I, 9, 10, and basal part of
2, powdered with blue, first with a small basal black spot ;
other segments dark steel-blue above, with a black
transverse mark across the segment near the distal end ;
sutures }'ellow ; brownish below. Anal a/ifici/dagcs, upper
prominent, black, somewhat triangular, flattened, diver-
gent at the end ; lower, rounded, brown, with a short
black projection above.

Female Imago.

Head, thorax, legs, and icings as in male, except that
the face is \-ellower and pterostigma lighter; there are two
interrupted }-ellowish lines on the front of thorax, and
there is a \-ellow spot on hind margin of prothorax, and
another on the front margin. Abdonicn, first segment
\ellow, with a squarish bronze-black dorsal spot
containing a tin}' \-ellow triangular one in centre ; rest
bronze-black above, with sutures }-ellow, except between
segments 7, 8, 9, and 10 where the}' are blue; below
}'ellow. Anal appendages short, conical, pointed, black.
Ovipositor slender, russet, sharp-pointed, reaching about
half-wa}- between segments 9 and 10. J'alvcs yellow.

Immature Colouring".

Marlangs yellow. Pterostigma very pale ; a bronze-
green tinge to the black of male as well as of female.
Eyes at first greenish-brown.

246

British Dragonfics.

Variation.

Tills species does not appear subject to much
variation.

Fig. 41.— NvMi'H of Ekythro.mma naia.s (x 3); and a CAioAr.

LAilELLA MORK HIGHLY MAG NIFl KI).

ErytJiroiinna.

247

Nymph (Fig. 41).
Body long and slender ; bright green, pale livid buff,
brown, or almost black ; length, including caudal lamelLt,
30mm., greatest breadth about 375mm. //tv?,'/ pentagonal,
ver}' narrow from front to back,
475mm. by 2mm. Autcinice (Fig. 42),
seven-jointed, distal two being very
intimatel}- united and appearing to
be one ; basal two stout and dark ;
next long, slender, and dark, with
a pale ring round centre ; the
rest pale and slender. Mask (Fig. 43),
diamond - shaped, with the anterior
corner rounded ; extending to the in-
sertion of the first pair of legs ; the
two palpi bearing a row of long hairs
near the outer margin ; their anterior
margin jagged ; the movable hooks
sharp and slender, and overlapping
when the mask is drawn back and at
rest ; a row of rather long hairs runs
in a curve across the body of the
mask, and on each side is a row of
short ones near the outer margin.
Eyes rather small, somewhat hemi-
spherical, situated at the anterior
corners of the head, dark in colour.
Between the e}'es are a few dark dots
and markings. On the central part of
the occiput, which is very narrow, are also some
dark markings, while its posterior corners bear
conspicuous spines. Prothorax somewhat rectangular

Fk;. 42. — Antenna
OF Nymph of Erv-

THROMMA NAIAS.
(Much magnified.)

248

British Dragonflies.

\

Fig. 43. — Mask of Ervthromma xaias.

(Much magnified.)

^~-

•''v^-v.

•■•'••C^gi

P'iG. 44. — Legs ok Nvmph ok Ervthrumm \ .\aias.

(x 15 diameters.)

Ervthromuia.

249

with the fore-corners removed, of moderate size, bearing
one or two dark hnes. Wing-cases short, 5 '5 mm. Legs
(Fig. 44j rather long, fore- 8'5mm., mid- lomm., hind-
13mm., paler than the general ground-colour; on each
femur two conspicuous dark rings, and one near the
basal end of the tibi;e ; all the legs have several

Fig. 4v — Part of a Caudal Lamklla of XviiPH of ERVTHROiniA

NAIAS.

(Much magnified.)

longitudinal rows of small dark points. The abdomen
tapers gradually to the posterior extremit)', and is
irrorated with small black dots ; the segments are fairly
equal, and each, except the tenth, is bounded posteriorly
by a row of about eight white dots, very conspicuous on
dark specimens. Each segment, except the tenth, has a

250

British Dragon flies.

tiny lateral posterior spine ; a medio-dorsal paler line
may just be distinguished, and on each side of it, rather
nearer the hinder edge of each segment, is a small pale
mark ; there is also a pale lateral line. The caudal
laniellie (Fig. 45) are 8mm. long, and of much the same
width throughout (about 2mm.) ; the tip is rounded,
and each lamella is divided into two parts ; the basal

Fig. 46. — Largest Spine on Margin of Caudal Lamella oe
NVMPH OF Erythromma naias.

(Very highly magnified.)

half has the margin spiny (Fig. 46J, especially on the
upper edge of the central one and the lower edge of
the other two (for the outer ones are I'eversed in position) ;
the decided nick on the more toothed margin is very
noticeable. The apical half of the lamella has a fringe
of extremely fine hairs, and bears three transverse brown
bands and a lonLjituclinal one alon<r the median trachea,

Erythromma. 251

which is stout ; the branch trachea; have their smaller
branches conspicuously dark in colour and arborescent
in structure. The end of the tenth segment is surrounded
with small points, and between the dorsal and each of
the lateral lamelhe is a small conical projection. These
nymphs are extremel}- livel}-, swimming b\' a sinuous
lateral motion of the bod}-. When thus progressing,
the lamella; are closed, and the legs brought close to
the side and stretched out at full length backwards ;
when walking, however, the legs are arched and the
thorax is raised. On being first taken from the water,
or if disturbed, they often feign death for a time.
[From Surrey specimens, bred on several occasions.]

Date.

In Surre}' the earliest date recorded for the imago is
May 6 (C. A. Briggsj, and I have found it m\'self on
July 16, when it did not appear to have reached the
end of its season. It occurs in France as late as
September. (De Sel}-s.)

Habits.

On the wing the appearance of the male reminds one
of /. clt'gdHS, and it might casil}' be passed over for
that species. It is, however, more robust, perhaps flies
more rapidh', and seems to be rather easily frightened.
The female, which is comparatively seldom seen, might
be confused with man}' of the darker Aon'oi/idiC. The
males often settle on floating weeds, such as Potamogcton.
When immature, E. naias should be looked for on the
bushes and herbage in the neighbourhood of its early
home.

;52 BritisJi Dragouflics.

Distribution.

Apparently this insect is very local in the southern
half of England. Very few localities have been recorded,
but in more than one of these it is described as common.
WarivicksJiirc : Sutton Coldfield, common (R. C. Bradley).
Staffordshire : Cannock Chase (R. C. Bradley). Lincoln-
sJiire : (Stephens). Cmiibridges/iiir : Thorney River
(K. J. Morton). Essex: Near ]^2pping, common (H.
Doubleday, 1871); Wanstead Park (¥. A. Walker).
Middlesex: River Brent (W. J. Ashdown). Surrey:
Ockham Common ; near Byfleet, common ; Esher
Common, one ; Richmond Park, one (W. J. L.) ;
Virginia Water (E. Vincent). Dorsetsliire : (W. H. Bath,
"Handbook," p. 81). Ireland: Belfast (R. McLachlan,
E. M. M., 1884, p. 255).

32. Pyrrhosoma nyniphula.

(Plate XXIII.)
Synonymy,

Libellitla iiyiiiphula, Sulz. Gesch. Ins. t. 24, f 5
(1776) ; Pyrrhosoma uympliiila, Kirb\- Syn. Cat.
Neur. Odon. 151 (1890). Li bell 11 la ininins, Harr.
Expos. Eng. Ins. 97, t. 29, f 1, 2 (1782).
Afrrion iiiiiiiuiii, Charp. Hor. P^nt. 13 (1825); Charp.
Lib. P:ur. 146, t. 1<S, f 2 (1840); Steph. Illustr. Brit.
Ent. Mand. vi. 75, n. 10 (1836): Selys Rev. Odon. 178
(1850) ; Mag. luit. Ann. 58 (1857). J\yrrhosoi//a iniiiiniir
Evans Brit. Lib. 16, pi. 5, f 3, 4 ^1845): McLach. Cat.
Brit. Neur. 17 (1870); Selys Bull. Acad. Belg. (2) xli.

Plate XXIII.

Pyrrhosonm nymphula

(X 2).

Pyrrhosonm tenelluin

(X 2).

PyrrJiosoma. 253

1296 (1876). Agrioii amarjoii, Hansem. Wiedem. Zool.
Mag. (2) i. 152 (1823). Aon'oii sdiig/iii/cdi, IJnd. Mon.
Lib. Eur. 4.1 (1825); Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 152 (1840).
Agrioji saiiguiitciiiii, Ramb. Hist. Nat. Ins. Nevr. 262
(1842). Agrioii fiih'ipes, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand.
vi. 75, n. II (1836). Erythroinina fnlvipcs, Evans Brit.
Lib. 16, pi. 5, f. 5 (1845). Erythrouuiia chloridioii, Evans
Brit. Lib. 16, pi. 5, f. 6 (1845J.

[Sulzer's description and lii,'urc seem to have been long over-
looked, but they ha\e six years' priority over those of Harris, and
the alteration from uiinium to nvinphula is therefore a necessitj'.
In Evan>, E. fulvipes seems to be a somewhat immature female of
P. nymphula, and E. chloridion a very immature female of the same
species. The apex of the abdomen with male appendages, by the
side of E. chhn-idion, apparently belongs to Erythromma naias.']

Sulzer's description.

Lib. nyiiipliiila. Mit glaslautern Flugeln ; der ganze
Leib ist schon roth, der Brustschild griin und schwarz
gestrichelt ; der Hinterleib ist mit schwarzen Ringen.
(J. H. Sulzer, " Abgektirzte Geschichte der Lisekten,
nach dem Linneischen System," t. 24, f. 5, 1776.)

Size.

Length of Male, 35mm. to 37mm. ; expanse of wings,
43mm. to 46mm. Length of Female, 33mm. to 37"5mm. ;
expanse of wings, 46mm. to 50'5mm.

Male Imago.

Face yellow, with black hairs ; sutures between parts
above mouth black. Top of head black. Eyes crimson.
Prothovax black, margined with crimson. Thorax bronze-
black on dorsal surface, with two longitudinal crimson
stripes ; yellow below ; projections between wings crimson

254 British Drago)ij!ies.

Legs black ; cox?e yellow. Wings hyaline. Pterostigvia
small, rhomboidal, with upper distal corner more acute,
brown, black in centre. Abdonioi crimson, with black
sutures, those between the basal segments being pre-
ceded by two yellow dots, and succeeded by a yellow
line ; segment i with a large transverse bronze-black
spot ; 7, 8, and 9 with a large basal spot, that on 7
occupying the greater part of the segment ; 10, with
two small basal spots ; ventral surface yellow, with black
middle line. Anal appendages, upper divided into two
rather slender projections, blackish, with the points of
the higher division incurved ; lower reddish, conical,
with an internal swelling and final incurved hook, much
stouter at the base than the upper ones.

Female Imago.

Generally much more bulky than the male, but closely
resembling it. There is a little difference in the pro thorax,
but the sexes differ most in the abdomen. Segment i
has the transverse black-bronze spot ; 2, 3, 4, 5 have a
mid-dorsal black carina swelling out distally into a
crown-shaped spot ; in 6, 7, 8 the spot nearl}' fills the
segment ; 9 has a bifid basal spot, and 10 has two small
basal ones. Anal appendages small, conical, crimson,
with black tip. Ovipositor slender, red-brown, reaching
quite to the end of the tenth segment. / 'a/c'es yellow,
as long as the ovipositor.

Immature Colouring.

On the head and thorax the crimson is for some days
replaced by yellow ; on the abdomen it is at first
dingy, but not yellow. Ej'es greenish-brown. Jl'ings

Pyrrliosouia. 255

suffused with a yellow tinge. Pterostignux )'ello\v. The
dark markings are green-bronze rather than black-bronze.

Variation.

This species appears as a rule to vary very little. I
have, however, a female from which the median carina
of segments 2, 3, 4, 5 is abseiit, the swellings at its
base being represented b}- tin)- marks ; the spot on
segment 6 is reduced to a line with a distal swelling.
De Selys ("Revue," p. 179) describes a female from
Madrid in some respects the opposite of this. There is
a broad bronze band along all the segments, enlarged
towards the extremit\- of each : the yellow incisions
are well marked, and the usual crimson marking on
head and thorax are replaced by }'ellow. He adds that
Mr. Dale sent him from Dorset a similar variety.

Oviposition.

In July, 1898, on Esher Common, two or three pairs
were noticed flying, connected per collitiii, along a narrow
ditch draining into the large pond. Presently one of
these pairs went down to the water, and the female
rested on a floating leaf of Potamogetim, whilst the male
still held her, and remained with its body vertical and
wings horizontal (Fig. 2, p. 13;. The female then
moved the anal extremity of her abdomen about over
the leaf, as if she was ovipositing. /\fter two or three
minutes they flew away. The eggs could not at first
be found ; but when the leaf had withered, some little
ridges were noticed, and these contained bodies similar
to the eggs that had been extracted from the body of
a female. The eggs were laid within the substance of

256 British Dragonflies.

the leaf— a method of ovipositing which the ovipositor
of the Agricviidcc seems well calculated to enable the
insect to perform. In 1868, Mr. R. McLachlan found it
ovipositing in the mud of a nearly dry ditch in the New
Forest.

Egg-
Somewhat cylindrical, but thicker near one extremity,
which tapers to a point, the other extremity being
rounded. The contents have a granular appearance, and
the Qgg is colourless and semi-transparent, in length
about I mm., and in greatest breadth about •25mm. It
resembles Nos. 6 and 7 of \''\g. 4, p. 16,

Nymph (Fig. 47).
In sJiapc long and slender, though less so than some
others of the Agrioi/idcc ; length, including the caudal
lamella.', 19mm. ; greatest breadth about 2"5mm. General
ground-colour dark sepia-brown. Head pentagonal ;
transverse measurement, about 3-2 5mm., longitudinal
r75mm. ; the lateral edges slope considerably back-
wards. Atitcniue seven-jointed, basal two stout, the
second darker distally ; all remaining joints darker
in centre. Mask flattish, triangular, narrow at the hinge,
and produced anteriorly in an obtuse angle ; extending
to the insertion of the fore-legs ; the palpi bearing a
row of hairs near the outer margin ; the sharp, slender,
movable hooks interlacing when the mask is at rest ; a
half-circle of hairs on the bod}- of the mask. Eyes rather
large, situated at the fore-corners of the head ; pear-
shaped, with the stalk pointing backwards ; colour dark
brown. Occiput narrow, separated from e}'es by a waved

PvrrJiosoma.

257

line ; hind-margin a little concave ; bearing centrally
a palish rectangle, with dark boundar}', and crossed
by two small parallel lines ; posterior corners with

Fig. 47. — Nymph of Pyrrhosoma NYiiPHULA.

(X A.)

conspicuous spines. Prothordx rather small, rectangular,
with the four corners rounded, bearincr some whitish

258 British Dragouflics.

markings, notably a mid-dorsal longitudinal streak.
Wing-cases long and straight, about 5mm. in length.
Legs rather long ; fore- about 7mm., mid- 8mni., hind-
iimm. ; paler than the general ground-colour; on the
femora two dark rings, on the tibije one rather faint one.
Abdomen tapering posteriori}', the segments being fairly
equal in length ; each, except the tenth, bearing along
its posterior margin a row of small white dots ; a whitish
lateral line along each segment, especially in older
specimens ; a mid-dorsal pale line, having on each side
of it a black dot in each segment except the tenth ;
distal margin of tenth segment surrounded with small
points ; between the dorsal and each of the lateral
lamellae a small conical projection. Caudal lanielles
5"5mm. in length ; a sharp point at the extremity, and
a strong median rib ; in colour pale, much blotched
with brown, and spotted with still darker brown. [Bred
on several occasions from Surrey nymphs.] This n}-mph
is fond of hiding under or between dead sunken leaves,
where its colour protects it remarkably well.

Emergence of Imago.

On page 112 will be found a description of the
emergence of an Anisopterid Dragonfly ; that \\hich
follows gives the method of disclosure of P. nyniphnla,
which appears to be sufficiently typical of the Zygopterids.
On April 27, 1898, about i p.m., a nymph was noticed
attempting to crawl up the edge of a dish, in which it
had been placed some time before. When removed to
another vessel and put in such a jjosition that it could
easily crawl up a stick, it did so in a very few minutes.
By about 1.30 the imago had commenced to emerge. By

Pyrrhosoiita. 259

1.35 the legs were out, and the insect was still, except
for occasional twitchings of the legs. Now occurred the
usual rest, in this instance of about tweh'e minutes only,
all parts being out except the last two or three
segments of the abdomen. The head and thorax were
not thrown back, as in the case of Libdlula qnadri-
maculata, and judging from several emergences observed
since, this is not done in the case of P. fiyi/ipliulu, but
head and thorax are kept erect. Whether this is so
with all Zygopterids remains to be proved. At 1.47 the
insect began to wake up, bent forward, and used its legs
to find a hold. At 1.52 it began to pull out the rest
of the abdomen, which by 1.55 was quite free. The
A\ings began then slowl}-, and quite imperceptibl)-, to
expand from the base forward, the tips remaining opaque
and crumpled till last. At 2.5 the wings were as long as
the body. Continuing to grow, at 2.17 they exceeded the
length of the bod\' b}' about Hn., and appeared to be of
full size. They were then yellowish, and somewhat
opaque. So far, the body had increased but little in
length since emergence. The abdomen kept swaying
from front to back, sometimes striking back sharply
against the wings. The swayings and jerkings grew
less till they practically ceased at 2.30, when the abdo-
men had increased decidedly in length, but was not so
long as the wings. At 2.50 the body was about 4in.
longer than the wings, and was pale yellowish-brown in
colour, but the crimson colouring had begun to appear
dorsally, especially on the basal segments. The wings
were fairly transparent, the pterostigma being yellow.
The yellow lines on the thorax were bright ; the legs
were palish. When left at 2.50 the Dragonfly was

S 2

26o IhitisJi Drao-onflii's.

practically complete, except for its colouring. The
specimen was a female. During the whole time the
imago had not moved forward up the stick, but at the
end of the metamorphosis was hanging immediately
above the head of the nymph-case. In another instance,
the rest lasted for twent)^ minutes, but the process of
emergence was very similar, and the time occupied
much the same.

Date.

In early seasons P. nyiitplinla appears in April, the
earliest date noted being April 29, when, in 1894, large
numbers were out on Esher Common, in Surrey ; but in
average seasons it begins to emerge in early May. It is
at its best in June, but may be taken through July,
and even lingers till the beginning of August.

Habits.

This Dragonfly seems to like to make its haunt near
ditches, streams, canals, &c., where vegetation is luxuriant.
Here amongst the herbage and about the bushes it is
often abundant.

Distribution,

There is no doubt that this species is well distributed
and common throughout the British Isles, but, probably
on account of this ver)- fact, the recorded localities are
by no means numerous. Iiivcnicss-shifc : Strathgiass
(J. J. F. X. King; ; common at Loch-an-Eilan, Bobbin
Mill at Kinrara, and along the banks of the Spey
(J. J. F. X. King). A/-oj'//s////r : Xear Dalmall}-.
common, Isle of Mull, Ledaig, and Isle of C(j11 yj. J. F. X.

PyrrJiosoiiia. 261

King). Pcrtlishirc : Breadalbane District (K. J. Morton) ;
Rannoch, abundant (C. A. Briggs). Lanai-kshiyc : Carluke
District fK. J. Morton). Wcstinoi-cland : Langdale
(J.J. F. X. King). YorksJiirc : Thorne, Bishop's Wood
near Selb}-, W'harncliffe Craggs, and Doncaster (G. T.
Porritt). ChcsJiirc : Delamere Forest and Heaths
(.]. Arkle). McrioiicihsJiirc : Tan-y-buich, abundant, and
Barmouth (A. D. Imms). Worccstcrsliirc : Near Worcester
(J. E. Fletcher). Wari.'ickshirc : Sutton Coldfield (R. C.
Bradley) ; Birmingham district, abundant (A. D. Imms).
OxfordsJiirc : Cowle}' Marsh (A. H. Hamm). Dorset:
Glanvilles Wootton (C. W. Dale). DcvousJiirc : Near
PK-mouth (G. C. Bignall). Berkshire : Near Wokingham
(A. H. Hamm}. Hampshire: New Forest (W. J. L.).
Sussex: Near Liphook (H. J. Turner); East, common
(G. T. Porritt) ; Shoreham ( H. J. Turner; ; Hailsham
(G. T. Porritt). Surrey: Near River Mole at Ivshcr, Ksher
Common, near Byfleet, near Chobham Common, near
Send, Ri\cr We}- at Wesley, near Longcross (W. J. L.) ;
Ockham Common, one (C. A. Briggs) ; Ripley (W. J.
Ashdown) ; near We\-bridge (J. E. Tarbat). Middle-
sex: River Lea at Park (G. T. Porritt). Essex: Near
Epping, abundant (H. Doubleday, 1871) ; Colchester
(W. H. Harwood; ; Dudden Hill and Wanstead Park
(F. A. Walker). Kent : Deal and Dover District,
common ()C. G. Hall) ; Folkestone ( H. J. Turner).
Ulster: Armagh (J. J. P". X. King). Leiuster : Killucan
and Twy Laogh (J. J. F. X. King;. Minister : Denough
River (J. J. F. X. King). Counaitght : Carrowbeg River
(J. J. Y . X. King). Guernsey : Grande Mare, common
(W. A. Luffj.

262 BritisJt Dragonfiics.

33. Pyrrhosoma tenellum.

(Plate XXIII.)
Synonymy.

Libcllula toiclla, Vill. Linn. Ent. iii. 15, n. 27 (1789).
Agrion toicllnni, Selys Rev. Odon. 180 (1850); Hag.
Ent. Ann. 58 (1857). Pyrrhosoma tcncllmn, McLach.
Cat. Brit. Neur. 17 (1870); Kirby Syn. Cat. Neur. Odon.
151 (1890). Agrion rubella, Lind. Opusc. Scient. iv. 105,
n. 7, t. 4, f. 6, 7 (1823); Lind. Mon. Lib. Eur. 42, n. 12
(1825); Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 154 (1840 j. Agrioit
rubclluin, Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 71, n. i,
pi. 29, f. 4 (1836); Evans Brit. Lib. 13, pi. 3, f. i
(i845>

De Villers' description.

L. (la Thercse) alis hyalinis, puncto marginali minimo.
Abdomine rubro, rubellove, thorace viridi lineato vel non
lineato. (C. J. de Villers, " Caroli Linniti Entomologia,
Faunae Suecica^ Descriptionibus Aucta," iii., p. 15,
n. 27, 1789.)

Size.

Length of Male, 30mm. to 32mm. ; expanse of wings,
33mm. to 36mm. Length of Female, 31mm. to 33'5mm. ;
expanse of wings, 36mm. to 39mm.

Male Imago.

Face crimson, with black line at base of nasus. Top
of head black. Eyes crimson. Pi-othorax triangular,
bronze, hind-margin straight, slightl}' raised. Thorax
bronze above, livid below, projections between wings

PyrrJiosoma. 263

reddish. Lci^s dull red. Win^^s h}'aline. Ptcrostigma
reddish. Abdomen slender, crimson, unspotted. Anal
appendages, upper small, rounded, black ; lower short,
conical, pointing upwards, red, with black tip.

Female Imago.

Face yellow, base of labium and of nasus black.
Dorsal surface of tJiorax usuall>- with two very fine
yellow, longitudinal lines. Abdomen, seginent i crimson,
with bronze spot ; 2, crimson ; 3, crimson, with a pos-
terior bronze spot ; the rest bronze, but 8, 9, and 10
have some crimson colouring on the dorsal surface ;
sutures }-ellowish ; ventral surface brownish. Anal
appendages very small, conical, reddish. Ovipositor
reaching to end of tenth segment, red. Valves rather
broad, dull yellow, as long as ovipositor.

Immature Colouring.

Pterostignia pale. In the female the crimson, especially
at the distal extremity of the abdomen, is replaced by a
reddish orange tint ; but in both sexes the abdomen
earl}' assumes its crimson colour.

Variation.

Varietal forms seem to be confined to the female.
De Selys describes a specimen of this sex, which closely
resembled a male : the abdomen had no spots, but the
extremity of the segments was ver\' fineh' circled with
bronze ; the face also resembled that of a male. Me
mentions another ver_\' like the last, but having a touch
of bronze at the extremit}' of segments 6, 7, and 8, the
face being as in the t}'pe. In 1898, I took in the New

264 BritisJi Dragoiiflics.

Forest one or two females in A\hich \ariation had taken
place along exactly opposite lines. In these the abdomen
was either entirely bronze or very nearly so. Their
identity was at first not easily made out. De Selys
mentions ("Revue," p. iSi; that Mr. Dale took varieties
of a similar kind to the last in Dorsetshire.

Somewhat spindle-shaped ; one extremity rounded,
the other tapering to a point. Towards the pointed end
the breadth is a little greater than elsewhere. Length
about "Smm., greatest breadth about ■2mm. Almost
colourless, but with just a faint }-ellowish tinge. Contents
granular. [Extracted from a female captured on Esher
Common, on September 11.] Fig. 4, No. 7.)

Date.

This is one of the summer Dragonflies, appearing on
the wing just before the middle of June. Thence it
continues to fly for about three months. The earliest
date on which I have seen it is June 9, and the latest
September 21. .

Habits.

Slender, delicate form and feeble flight seem to be
the most prominent characters of Pyrrhosouia tcnclliini.
It often rests on the rushes and taller grasses round
the margin of the ponds, and so on, that constitute its
haunt. As it is usually jjlentiful where it occurs, it
sometimes rises in large numbers when its habitat is
invaded.

Pvi'rliosoma.

_'U3

Distribution.

Being of South luiropcan distribution, /'. toiclltmi
is a Dragonfl}- that we should not have expected to
find in England. Not onh' is it distinctly British,
however, but in some of its haunts it is ver}- plentiful.
Moreover, it certainly extends as far north as Cambridge,
and perhaps even farther still. In Siinry it has been
taken at Weybridge (R. McLachlan, 1^74) ; it is
abundant on Esher Common (\\ . J. L.), and has been
reported from ^lerton (J. S. Brocklesb}-;. In Hampshire
it occurs in many parts of the New- Forest (W. J. L.),
and at Bournemouth (R. C. Bradley;. In Sussex a
female was on one occasion taken near Liphook
(W. J. L.). H. Doubleda}', in 1871, said it was
formerly very common near Epping, in Essex ; and
De Selys ("Revue," 1850) gives Dorsei (Dale) as a
localit}-. In Cainbridgeshii e it occurs at Chippenham
Fen, commonl}-, and at W'icken Fen (G. T. Porritt) ;
while Mr. J. Arkle reports that at Abersoch, in
Laneashii\\ he once came across large numbers of
what he took to be small specimens of P. iiyiiiplinla.
On seeing a series of P. teuelliiui, he felt that he had
made a mistake, and that the insects belonged to
the latter species. He, however, had no specimens
to confirm his supposition, so this northern locality is
at present onl)- conjectural. His description of the
habits of the insects, howexer, seems to point to the
more interesting species.

266 British Dragon/lies.

34. Ischnura pumilio.

(Plate XXIV.)
Synonymy.

Aoi-ioii pumilio, Charp. Hon Ent. 22 (1825); Charp.
Lib. Eur. 154, t. 39 (1840); Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 156
(1840); Selys Bull. Acad. Belg. vii. (2) 94(1840); Selys
Rev. Oclon. 182 (1850); Hag. Ent. Ann. 59 (1857).
IscJiuiira piiDtilio, Evans Brit. Lib. 17, pi. 5, f. 7(1845);
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 17 (1870); Selys Bull. Acad.
Belg. (2) xli. 267 (1876). MicronympJia pumilio, Kirb}'
Syn. Cat. Neun Odon. 140 (1890). Agriou clcoaus, Fonsc.
Ann. Soc. Ent. Erance vii. 565, t. 14, f. 7, a, b (1838).
Agrion coguata, Selys Rev. Zool. 214 (1840). Agrion
rubcllum, var. Curt. Brit. Ent. xvi., pi. 732 (1839). Agrion
xauthoptcruui, war. Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. v. 72
(1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 13, pi. 3, f. 2 (1845). Agriou
aurcutinca, var. Seh'S Cat. Lep., &c., Belg". 12 (1837);
Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 159 (1840); Fonsc. Ann. Soc. Ent.
France vii., 570, t. 15, f. 3 (1838).

Charpentier's description.

Agr. aeneum, flavido et coeruleo pictum : collaris mar-
gine postico leviter rotundato. . . . Minimum omnium
Agriorum europaeorum, mihi hue usque notorum. Agrio
tuberculato {—Isc/iuura rlcgaus) affine, structura collaris,
magnitudine multo minore, ultimi segmenti appendi-
cumquc maris divcrsa structura satis distinctum. Caput
ut in A. tuberculato constructum, sed paullo majus quam
in illo, si totius animalis magnitudinem respicias. Collare
transversum, antice angustimi, nigro-acneum, undiquc

Plate XXIV.

Ischnura pumilio

(X 2).

Ischnura elegans

(X 2}

IscJinura. 267

colore ex flavido coerulcscenti limbatum ; marginibus
antico posticoque reflexis, postico rotundato producto
(hand tuberculato vel elcvato). Foeminae disco flavo-
maculato. Thorax maris nigro-aeneus, lineis cluabus
lateribusque, et parte iiiferiorc viridi-coeruleis. Foeminae
oli\aceo-aeneus : linea dorsali atra, ciii adjacet utrimquc
linea flavescens : ad latera alia linea hujus coloris, qiialis
etiam pars thoracis inferior est. Abdomen ut in specie
praecedente [ = A. tiibcrcnlatuui) pictum, hac tamen
differentia, ut segmentum penultimum totum et ante-
penultimi pars dimidia postica sint coerulei coloris. Pedes
flavescentes, externa parte linea atra picti. Alae latius-
culae, aqueae, pulcherrime iricolores et nervis tenerrimis
instructae. Parastigmata rhombeo-quadrata, quasi

rotundata : basi nigra, apice nivea ; in foeminis alba fere
tota. Appendices caudales maris quatuor atrae [Tab. i..
Fig. 27] superiores duae brevissimae, ad latera positae,
cuneiformes. Inferiores triple longiores, spiniformes, sub-
curvatae. Ultimi segmenti abdominalis margo posticus
integer et supra aequalis. Pauca tantummodo hujus
Agrii spccimina examini subjicere potui, ideoque fortasse
descriptio posthac erit emendanda. (T. de Charpentier,
" Horae Entomologicae," p. 22, 1825).

Size.

Length of Male, 28mm. to 3r5mm. ; expanse of wings,
30mm. to 34mm. Fength of P'emale, 27"5mm. to 32mm. ;
expanse of wings, 33mm. to 37mm. [From four conti-
nental specimens.]

Male Imago.

Face yellowish, with two bronze-black lines — on nasus
distinct, on upper lip fainter. Top of head black-bronze,

268 BritisJi Dragoujiics.

with brownish ocelh. Eyes greenish below, brownish
above, a round bhie spot behind each. ProtJiorax roughly
triangular, with apex, which is rounded, behind ; margins
blue. Meso- and meta-thorax blue lateral!}', bronze-
black, with two longitudinal blue stripes dorsally ; points
between the wings blue. U'/z/os h}'aline, nervures pale
brown. Ptcrostigma rhomboidal, yellow, internalh' dark
brown on the fore-wings. Legs pale, with a black streak
externall}'. Abdomen bronze-black ; first five sutures
between segments \-ellow, except the first interrupted
mid-dorsally ; eighth segment blue posteriorly, ninth
entirely, tenth laterally ; below yellowish ; on the dorsal
hind-margin of tenth segment a short, bifid tubercle,
pointing backwards, ^'ello^\•-tipped. Anal appendages^
upper short, curved upwards and inwards, black above,
reddish below ; lower longer, sharp, curved inwards,
black above, yellowish below.

Female Imago.

With the female, in general )-ellow takes the place
of the blue on head and thorax, \\hile bronze replaces
it on segments 8, 9, and 10 of the abdomen. On the
first two segments of the abdomen the colour tends
towards a yellowish-brown. The eighth segment ter-
minates below in a spine. Anal appendages short, conical,
orange. Ovipositoi- sharp-pointed, reaching as far as the
anal appendages. Pterosfignia pale orange.

Variation.

In var. ani-antiaea of the female, the head, thorax
(with prothorax), legs, first two segments of the abdomen,
and part of the third, almost entirely orange. Nervures

Ischniira. 269

russet. This variety is parallel with the orange variety
of /. clcoaus. Like that insect also, /. pnutilio \-aries
considerabl)' in size.

Nymph.

In "Science Gossip," September, 1894, Mr. \V. H.
Nunney sa}'s that the n}-mph resembles that of
/. clcgans, but that it has six hairs (five in figure) on
the palpus, while clcgans has eight. He adds further
that the caudal lamellae are more elliptical, that the
apex makes an angle of about 35deg., and that one
margin only is hair)-.

Date.

This Dragonfly should be looked for from June to
September.

Distribution,

As a British insect this species seems to be lost at
the present time, for no locality can be given where
it ma\- now be found. Ikit being so small, and re-
sembling so closel}' /. clcgaus (especially small examples
of the latterj and even E. uaias, it may be easily
passed over, considering also that Neuropterists are so
few that but little of the surface of the British Isles
can have been covered by them. This interesting little
Dragonfl}' is therefore probably still with us, and diligent
search should be made for it, particularly in the south
of England and in Ireland. It is really a southern
insect, but has been found at a considerable elevation,
e.g., by Mr. AIcLachlan, at the S. Gothard Hospice,
about 6500ft. above sea-level. A few localities have

2/0 BritisJi DragoJifiics.

been recorded, but whether the identity of the insects
taken was alwa}-s satisfactoril}' determined I cannot
say. In 1871, Mr. H. Doubleday said that it was rare
in the neighbourhood of Eppiiig, amongst the red gravel-
pits (E. M. M., 1 87 1, p. 87). Mr. McLachlan states
in E. M. M., 1884, p. 255, that it used to be taken
not uncommonly in Dorset by Mr. J. C. Dale, and it
has also been recorded from Cambridge (Evans) and
Belfast (Haliday). Mr. W. H. Bath (" Handbook," p. 79,
1890) says that it had been recorded from Parley Heath,
in Hampshire, where it was said to be not uncommon,
and that it had recently been met with near Kilmarnock,
in Scotland, by Mr. H. S. Dunn, jun. Mr. C. W. Dale
informed Mr. C. A. Briggs, in 1893, that it was common
near Penzanee, and Mr. W. H. Bath stated, in the
"Naturalist's Gazette," p. 50, 1891, that it occurred
sparingly in August, 1890, at a pool near Bonniemoiith.
In addition to these, a WeymoutJi locality has been
given, but a search there only revealed /. elegans. In
1887, Mr. W. H. Bath recorded a nice series from
Stratford-o}i-Avon (Entom., 1887, p. 285), but as he
does not give this locality in his "Handbook" (1890),
we must conclude that there was some mistake. Parfitt
recorded it as common near Exeter, but on cnquir\'
Mr. McLachlan found that there had been an error in
identification (E. M. M., 1884, p. 255).

Ischmwa. 271

35. Ischnura elegans, Lind.

(Plate XXIV.)

Synonymy,

Agrion clcgans, Lind. Opusc. Scient. iv. 104, n. 6, t. 3,
f. 5 (1823); Lind. Mon. Lib. Eur. 40, n. 9 (1825);
Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 72 (1836) ; Evans
Brit. Lib. 13, pi. 3, f. 3,4 (1845) : Sel}-s Rev. Odon. 188
(1850) ; Hag. Ent. Ann. 59 (1857). hclniitra eiegaus, Selys
Bull. Acad. Belg. (2) xli. 277 (1876) ; McLach. Cat.
Brit. X'eur. 17 (1870). MicronyiiipJia clcgans, Kirb\- Syn.
Cat. N'eur. Odon. 142 (1890). Agrion piipilla, Hansem.
Wiedem. Zool. Mag. ii. (i) 156 (1823); Selys Mon. Lib.
Eur. 157 (1840). Aoriou tuberculatiim, Charp. Hor. Ent.
21 (1825); Burm. Handb. Ent. ii. 819, n. 11 (1839);
Charp. Lib. Eur. 152, t. 38, f. 2 (1845). Agrion czojiatuui
Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 72 (1836) ; Evans
Brit. Lib. 14, pi. 3, f. 5 (1845). Agrion rufcsccns,
Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. 74 (1836), van ; Evans.
Brit. Lib. 15, pi. 5, f. 2 (1845). Agrion agl'dc, Fonsc.
Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. vii. 567, t. 15, f. i, 2 (1838). Agrion
Jiastulatiini, Burm. Handb. Ent. ii. 820, n, 13 (1839).
Agrion rithcns, Evans Brit. Lib. 14, pi. 3, f. 6 (1845), var.

Vander Linden's description.

A. supra fusca, subtus virescens, puncto post oculum
utrumque, lineaque utrinque longitudinali in thorace,
caeruleis aut viridibus : penultimo abdominis segmento
in mare (aliquando in femina) caeruleo. . . . Descr.
Mas supra niger, puncto post oculum utrumque, linea
utrinque longitudinali in thorace penultimoque abdominis

British Dragonflies.

segmento et nonnunquam etiam priino cacruleis. Subtiis,
caput, oculi, pectus pallidc caerulescentia, abdomen
virescens apice caeruleo. Pedes pallid i, femoribus supra
nigris. Alae alba; macula marginali obscura, sa;pius
puncto nigro notata. Femina supra fusca puncto post
oculum utrumque, lineaque longitudinali in thorace
viridi luteis : subtus virescens. Saepe penultimum
abdominis segmentum pallidius est, aliquando punctis
duobus caerulescentibus notatum. Femina etiam aliquando
mari simillima est, abdomine tantum crassiori. (P. L.
Vander Linden, " Opuscoli Scientifici," torn. i\'.,
p. 104, 1823).

[Vander Linden speaks ol the penultimate segment (/.<'•, tlie
ninth) as being bhie, whereas it is the eighth in /. elegans, and the
ninth in I. piimiUo. In his figure, however, the blue segment seems to
be the eighth, and in the diagnosis he speaks of the female as some-
times having the blue segment like male, which is not the ca^e in
pumilio ; moreover, De Selys says that all the specimens in Vander
Linden's collection represented c/cf^rt'/ii- and \\oi puniilio.'\

Size,

Length of Male, about 30mm. to 33mm. ; expanse of
wings, about 33mm. to 35mm. Length of P^emale, 30mm.
to 33mm. ; expanse of wings, 35mm. to 37'5mm.

Male Imago.

Face greenish ; nasus and base of labrum black ; top
of head black. Eyes greenish ; behind the eyes a circular
blue spot. Protliorax small, black, hind-margin produced
in centre in a long, raised, blunt lobe. Tliorax black
above, with a narrow bhic line on each side ; blue on the
sides ; }-ellowish below ; projections between wings blue.
Leers black above, bluish below. JTiz/os hyaline.
Pterostigina rhomboidal, yellow ; inner bounding ncrvures

he hi

-/J

much darker than outer two ; on fore- wings basal part
of central area black ; on hind-wings on!}- lightl\-
sprinkled with black in centre. Abdomen, segment i
blue above, with black spot ; 2 to 7 with 9 and 10
black above ; 8 blue ; sutures between segments 2 to 7
yellow, dorsall)' interrupted ; ventral surface of i to 6
yellow, with mid-line black, of 7 to 10 blue. Anal
appoidages black ; upper as small lobes curving out-
wards and downwards, and ending in a blunt point,
not prominent ; lower short, slender, blunt, divergent.

Female Imago.

The tyjMcal form resembles the male very closely
indeed. The ptcrostigiiia of all the wings is like that
of the hind-wings of the male ; small ventral spine on
distal margin of eighth segment. Aiial appendages short,
black, conical. Ovipositor red, rather short, reaching
about to the end of the tenth segment, l^alves with
margin rounded, broad, about as long as ovipositor.

Immature Colouring.

Before maturit}' is reached the blue colouring is
replaced by greyish-green, except in the orange variety
of the female.

Variation.

Besides the marked variation in size, there is a constant
form of the female in which the parts of head thorax
not black, and first and second segments of the
abdomen, are bright orange. On the meso- and meta-
thorax almost the only part not orange is a broad

T

274 British Dragonflics.

mid-dorsal black stripe. This form of the female is
usually not at all uncommon in some localities. A
specimen of this species taken in Richmond Park had
two small distal blue spots on dorsal surface of seventh
segment of abdomen.

Nymph.

Mr. W. H. Nunney thus describes the nymph of
IscJimira clegaiis in "Science Gossip," September, 1894:
" /. clcgaus usually greenish-yellow, varies greatly in
colour, that of the head and eyes changing according to
the creature's age. Two fascia.^ occur around the basal
tubercles of the antennae ; two curved lines converge
towards the tubercles of the ocelli, and two other
curved lines occur on the hind-borders of the head,
tending medially towards the other lines, from which
they are divided by a small straight line crosswise in
the centre of the curved hinder margin ; on the fore-
face are two slight depressions, usually filled with dirt
particles, consequently difficult to see. The body has
on all but the final segments four curved lines arranged
thus, )()(. Peculiar spines occur on the metacarpus ; to
see these a microscope is necessary. The cauda; are
ovoid, spined along the basal upper margins, and are
slightly notched where the spines end. The central
tracheal stem is thickened, and is crossed at the
marginal notch by an additional thickening. According
to Roster, the apical angles alter with the age of the
nymph." Mr. R. M. Whattson sa}'s that the lamelhe
are pointed. In an cm|)ty nymph-casc which I believe
to belong to this species, the dark branchlets of the
somewhat narrow lamella (two are lost) are very numerous.

Ischnura. 275

Date.

This species begins to appear about the middle of
May, and remains on the wing throughout the summer,
the earhest record noticed being May 17, and the
latest September 12. Quite at the end of the season
specimens are often taken with the immatiu'e colouring.
It does not follow, however, that these belong to a
second brood ; they seem rather to be individuals that
have matured later, for in some species of the A vricviidce
n}-mphs taken c^uite near to the time when the imagines
might be expected to emerge vary very greatly in size,
and it is clear that the smaller ones could not possibly
disclose the perfect insect till long after their larger
brethren.

Habits.

/. clcgaus flies low amongst the herbage of sedgy
ditches, canals, and ponds. In such situations, unless
sought for, it is not easily detected, its coloration
being not conspicuous.

Distribution.

Throughout the British Isles this species occurs,
and though records are not very numerous, yet they
are well scattered, and this Dragonfly must be looked
upon as one of our common species. Argyllshire : Small
form (G. T. Porritt) ; Ledaig and near Dalmally
(J. J. F. X. King). Perthshire: (A. M. Rodger).
L'Dicashirc : Morecambe ( G. T. Porritt). Cheshire:
Chester district, pretty general (J. Arkle). Yorkshire :
York, Castle Howard, and Huddersfield (G. T. Porritt).

T 2

2/6 British Dragonflies.

Norfolk: Broads near Lowestoft (J. Prest). Cavi-
bridgeshirc : Common (K. J. Morton) ; Wicken (G. T.
Porritt) ; Littleport (C. A. Briggs). Worcestershire:
Near Worcester, local (J. E. Fletcher). WarivieksJiire :
Sutton Coldfield (R. C. Bradley). Merionethshire :
Barmouth (R. C. Bradley). Scilir Isles: Tresco
''F. Norgate). Devonshire : Near Pl)'mouth (G. C.
Bignellj. Somerset: Exmoor (W. J. L.j. Dorset:
Studland (J. E. Tarbat) ; Glanvilles Wootton (J. C.
Dale). Hampshire : New Forest coast near Sowley
and Hengistbury Head, one {W . J. L.). Berk-
shire : Near Eynsham (W. J. L.j ; Radley College
(M. Burr). Middlesex: Bushey Park and Home Park,
Hampton Court (VV. J. L.). Surrey: Ockham Common,
Chobham Common, Wimbledon Common, Esher Common
(one), Merton, Canal near Byfleet, near Send, and Rich-
mond Park (W. J. L.) ; Kew Gardens (G. Nicholson) ;
Virginia Water (E. Vincent). Sussex : Bellagio, common
(M. Burr) ; near Liphook (W. J. L.). Kent : Deal,
Dover, and Folkestone (C. G. Hall) ; Gra\-esend Marshes
(H. J. Turner) ; Sandwich (W. J. L.). Essex : Near
E[)ping, common everywhere (H. Doubleda}-, 1871) ;
Colchester (W. H. Harwood). Uistei- : Glasslough, Co.
Monaghan (K. J. Morton). Leinster : Shannon Side and
Coosan Point (J. J. F. X. King). Minister : Ross Castle,
Dinish, and Denough River (J. J. V. X. King). Con-
nnught : Mackree Castle, Carrowbeg River, Knappagh,
Ki[), and Ma'ammee Laoghs (J. J. V. X. King).
Guernsey : Not uncommon (W. A. Luff j.

Plate XXV.

05

o

Agrion. 277

36. Agrion pulchellum, Lind.
(Plate XXV.)
Synonymy.

Agrion pulchclln, Lind. Opusc. Scient. iv. 103 (1823);
Lind. Mon. Lib. Eur. i'^, n. 7 (1825J; Selys Mon. Lib.
Eur. 161 (1840). Agrioji piilchcllHin, Selys Rev. Odon.
197 (1850); Hag. Ent. Ann. 59 ('1857); Sely.s Bull.
Acad. Belg. (2) xli. 1255 (1876); McLach. Cat. Brit.
Neur. 17 (1870). Civnagrion pulchellum, Kirby Syn.
Cat. Neur. Odon. 148 (i8go). Agrion puella, Hanser"
Wiedem. Zool. Mag. ii. (i) 155 (1823); Steph. Illustr.
Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. "Ji, n. 5 (1836); Evan.s Brit.
Lib. 14, pi. 3, f. 7-8 (1845). Agrion intcrniptuni, Charp.
Hor. Ent. 16 (1825); Charp. Lib. Eur. 156, t. 40 (1840).
Agrion hinulatiini, Evans Brit. Lib. 15, pi. 4, f. 3 (1845).
Agrion hastnlatnin, Evans Brit. Lib. 15, pi. 4, f. 5, 6 (1845).
Agrion cvatliigernni, Evans Brit. Lib. 15, pi. 4, f. 7 (1845).

Vander Linden's description.

Lender Agrion platj'poda { = Pla/vcncniis pen?iipes)
Vander Linden says : N.B. Eeminam adhuc possideo,
corpore supra fusco, maculis duabus postice in capite,
lineolaque intermedia ; fascia utrinque longitudinali in
thorace, maculisque duabus connatisad basin segmentorum
abdominis, ca;ruleis ; primo atque antepenultimo segment©
totis fere caeruleis, macula irregulari nigra, duabusquc
ultimis supra nigris : subtus virescente, pectore cinereo :
alls albis, macula marginali fusca : pedibus pallidis supra
nigris. Cum nunquam in copula ceperim, dubito an

2/8 Bi'itish Dragonflics.

species distincta sit. Intermedia videtur inter ^gi'-
platypodaiii et Agr. piicllam. (" Opuscoli Scientifici,"
torn, iv., p. 103, 1823;. ... In 1825, he sa)-s : — vii.
Agn'oJi pulchclla. A. Capite et thorace supra nigris,
macula post oculum utrumque, strigaque utrinque thoracis,
cneruleis aut violaceis : abdomine fusco-aeneo, segmentis
phn-imis basi caeruleis. . . . Mas. Caput supra nigrum,
rnacula post oculum utrumque, et lineola intermedia,
ca;ruleis: antice casruleum, strigis duabus transversis nigris.
Oculi fusci subtiis ca^rulei. Thorax supra niger, striga
utrinque longitudinali ca^rulea, aliquando interrupta : subtus
lateribusque casruleus. Abdominis primum segmentum
cairuleum ; 2, ca;ruleum macula bifida nigra ; 3, 4, 5,6,
nigro-a^nea, macula baseos ca^rulea ; 7, nigro-^eneum ;

8, cairuleum ; 9, caeruleum postice nigrum ; 10, nigrum.
Pedes nigri, femoribus extias, tibiis inti^is, ca^ruleis. Al;e
albae, macula marginali obscura, puncto nigro. Fcuiina.
Caput, thorax, pedes, aLx- ut maris. Abdominis segmenta,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, nigro-32nea macula baseos ca;rulea ;

9, 10, nigro. Variat etiam abdominis segmentis, 3,4, 5, 6, 7,
nigris immaculatis : 8, macula baseos virescente. Long
14 lin. Ext. alar. M. 16 lin. F. 19 lin. (" Monographiai
Libellulinarum Europa^arum Specimen," p. 38, 1825).

' Size.

Length of Male, 32mm. to 36'5mm. ; expanse of wings,
36mm. to 41mm. Length of Female, 34mm. to 36mm. ;
expanse of wings, 44mm. to 50mm.

Male Imago.

Face bluish ; black line at base of labrum and on
.suture between nasus and frons. Eyes bluish. Top of

Asrrion.

279

head black-bronze ; a comma-shaped blue spot behind
each eye ; broken, blue, transverse streak on occiput.
ProtJiorax black-bronze, with blue line along front
margin ; strongl)- trilobed behind, and edged with blue
in middle of margin. Thorax black-bronze above, with
two blue longitudinal stripes ; bluish below ; projections
between wings blue. Wings hyaline. Pterostignia small,
rhomboidal, black centre, pale between centre and black
bounding nervures. Ligs black above, bluish below.
Abdomen blue and black-bronze ; segment i blue, with

K^^

Fig. 48. Anal Appexdages of Male of Agrion pulchellum.

Dorsal and Ventral Surfaces.
(.A.fter Hagen, in De Selys' " Revue.")

squarish posterior spot ; 2, blue, with U-shaped spot
(Plate XXV) joined to black circlet behind it; 3 to 5, blue,
with distal spot extending forward as a line in centre and
on sides ; 6, with a small basal spot only blue ; 7, black-
bronze ; 8, blue ; 9, blue, with large three-pointed black-
bronze distal spot ; 10 black-bronze, blue at sides, hind-
margin deeply notched ; underside, middle segments
greenish, others bluish. Anal appendages (Fig. 48),
upper, globular, bluish or yellowish, with rather long.

28o BfitisJi Dragonflics.

sharp, black projection pointing downwards and outwards ;
lower, somewhat similar in shape and colour, with pro-
jection pointing upwards and outwards.

Female Imago.

Eves greenish. Middle lobe of protJiorax not so
prominent as in male. Segment 2 of abdomen blue,
with a black-bronze spot much resembling that on the
second segment of the male of Agrion nierciir-iale ; 3
to 8 black-bronze, with a basal bilobed blue spot ; 9
and 10 bronze-black, with margins blue ; underside
yellowish, mid-ventral line black. In other respects,
and in general appearance, the female resembles the
male more closely than in the other British Agrions.
Anal appendages short, conical, black. Ovipositor
reddish, as long as the ninth and tenth segments.
Valves bluish.

Immature Colouring.

At first grey, then passing through lavender and
violet-blue to a cold cerulean-blue like the rest of the
genus ; wings with a slight brown tinge ; pterostigma
paler ; the black parts with a more decided bronze tinge.

Variation.

The stripes on the dorsal surface of the thorax vary
in development, and may or may not be interrupted
towards their basal extremity. The characteristic spot
on the second segment of the male varies, especially
in thickness, and the neck joining it to the circlet
behind may possibly be absent ; there is also great
difference in the development of the blue spots. A

Agrion. 281

form of the female which resembles somewhat closely
the female of A. piiclla has the blue spots reduced to
mere circlets. The shape of the prothorax will in such
cases serve to distinguish the two species, which seem
to be closely related.

Nymph.

On one occasion the author bred an imago of this
species, but could not make out any clear points of
distinction between the nymph-case and that of A. pnella.
Perhaps had he known previous to emergence to what
species the nymph belonged, this might have been
possible.

Date.

Earl}' in May this insect appears on the wing in
Surre}% and it has been recorded as abundant in the
middle of July in Cambridgeshire. There is little doubt
that, like its congeners, it extends into August.

Habits.

In its haunts and manner of flight it seems to
resemble its congener, A. piiclla, the male of which
also, and of E. cynthigcntin, it closely resembles in
appearance.

Distribution.

Judging by the records and notices of its occurrence,
this Dragonfly does not appear to be so common as is
generally supposed. The author has met with it but
in one district, and there only in comparatively small
numbers. Records are: Argj'ils/iire : (J. Mackay,
"Young Naturalist," vol. viii., p. 180). Yorkshire :

282 British Dragojijlies.

Castle Howard (G. C. Dennis) ; Askern and Sandburn
(G. T. Porrittj. Wariuickshirc : Stratford-on-Avon

(W. H. Bath). CaiiibridgcsJiirc : Ouse, near Ely,
abundant, and Littleport (C. A. Briggs) ; Wicken.
abundant (G. T. Porritt). Norfolk : Broads near
Lowestoft (J. Prest). Essex : Near Epping, not common
(H. Doubleday, 1871). Kent: Deal (C. G. Hall);
Canterbury (H. M. Briggs). Sussex : East, common in
woods and lanes (G. T. Porritt). Surrey : Ponds, &c.
(W. J. Ashdown) ; canal, near Byfleet (\V. J. L.) ;
Ockham Common, one (W. J. L.).^ Dorset: Glanvilles
Wootton (C. W. Dale). Ulster : Armagh (J. J. F. X.
King). Guernse}' : Grande Mare, common (W. A. Luff).

37. Agrion puella, Linn.

(Plate XXVI.).
Synonymy.

Libelliila puella, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 546, n. 18 (1758)
Linn. Faun. Suec. 375 (1761). Agrioii puella, Lind
Opusc. Scient. iv. 104, n. 5 (1823) ; Lind. Mon. Lib
Eur. 39 (1825) ; Selys Mon. Lib. Eur. 163 (1840) ; Selys
Rev. Odon. 200 (1850) ; Hag. Ent. Ann. 60 (1857)
McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 17 (1870) ; Sel\-s Bull Acad
Belg. (2) xli. 1257 (1876). Caniagriou puella, YJxxhy "SiyVi
Cat. Neur. Odon. 148 (1890). Agriou fureatuui, Charj:)
Hor. Ent. 18 (1825) ; Charp. Lib. Eur. 158, t. 40
(1845) ; Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. vi. 7^, n. 8
(1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 14, pi. 4, f i, 2 (1845

* In some of the magazines the author, by mistake, recorded the capture
of this species on Esher Common ; it does not appear to occur tliere.

Plate XXVI.

mm

5

v^'

Agnon. 283

Agrion pupa, Hansem. Wiedem. Zool. Mag. ii. (i) 155
(1823). Agrion aiiiiiilari\ Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand.
vi. 74, n. 8 (1836) ; Evans Brit. Lib. 15, pi 5, f. i (1845).
Lucifiigns (?) Harr. Expos. Eng. Ins. 98, t 29, f. 5, 6
(1782).

Linnaeus' description.

L. alis erectis h)-alinis. (a). Libellula corpora sericeo,
alis puncto marginali fusco. . . . (/3). Libellula
corpore incarnato, alis puncto marginali fusco. . .
(7). Libellula corpore sericeo, alis puncto marginali
nigro. . . . [S). Libellula corpore ca;ruleo cinereoque
alterno, alis puncto marginali nigro. . . . Varietates
conjunxi, c^uas copula sa^pius junctas vidi. (C. Linnaeus,
" S}'stema Naturai," Ed. x. L, p. 546, n. 18, 1758.)
LIBELLULA puclla alis erectis hyalinis. [a). Libellula
corpore sericeo ; alis puncto marginali fusco. Desck.
Hai e minoribus. Dorsum secundum totam longitudinem
a^neum. Ahi; aurata;, nitida;, puncto marginali fusco,
rhomboide, non nigro : \asa alarum reticulata constant
semper duobus nervis longitudinaliter sibi propioribus.
Thorax et abdomen subtus et ad latera livida. Pedes
extra nigricantes, intus lividi. Oeuli cinerei, supra fusci.
Caput a tergo a^neum, linea alba transversa, transversim
trifida, extremitatibus crassioribus. Thorax a tergo
\"iridi-a^neus, utrinque linea alba longitudinali notatus.
Anienjue nigral, breves, infimo articulo crasso.
{^). Libellula corpore incarnato ; alis puncto marginali
fusco. DescR. Corpus incarnatum, juxta incisuras
abdominis lineolis sive characteribus nigris. Punetuui
alarum marginale fuscum. . . . (7). Libellula corpore
sericeo ; alis puncto marginali nigro. Descr. ALc albae

284 British Dj'agonflies.

puncto marginali atro. Corpus supra . viridi-caeruleum,
nitidum, absque ulla alia mixtura ; magnitudo pr^eceden-
tium duarum. . . . (S). Libellula corpore ca^ruleo
cinereoque alterno ; alls puncto marginali nigro. Dp:s('R.
Al(E albse, puncto marginali atro. Abdot)iiiiis articuli a
tergo visi antice cinerei, postice cxrulescenti-nitidi ; ante-
penultimus et ultimus articulus in plerisque cinereus,
nullo modo nitidus. (C. Linnaeus, " Fauna Suecica," ed. ii.,
PP- 2>7S-}>7^, n- 147 1- 1 76 1.)

[(rt) appears to be ^. puella, female. (;3) is, no doubt, Pyrrhosoma
nvmphiila. (y). The identity of tiiis insect does not seem clear.
(5) appears to be Eiiallagma cyathigerum or A . pitcUn, male.]

Male Imago.

Face bluish ; a black line at base of labrum, and another
at base of nasus. Top of head black-bronze, with a comma-
shaped blue spot behind each eye ; under-surface of head
blue. Prothorax black-bronze, three-lobed, but not
deeply cut or much raised, middle division lightly
notched in centre, edged all round with blue. Thorax,
dorsal surface black-bronze, with two entire, blue,
longitudinal stripes ; sides and lower surface blue, pro-
jections between wings blue. JVings hyaline ; pterostigma
black, centre surrounded by pale ring, and bounded
by stout nervures. Tegs black above, bluish below.
Abdomen blue and bronze-black ; segment i, blue, with
somewhat semicircular basal black spot ; 2, blue, with
U-shaped spot not reaching the circlet behind it
(Plate XXVI.) ; 3 to 5 blue, with distal quarter black ; 6,
blue, with distal half black ; 7, all except narrow basal
ring black ; 8, blue, with two tiny black spots ; 9, blue,
with distal three-pointed black spot ; 10, black, with

Agrion. 285

anterior edge blue, hind-margin notched and there edged
with bkie ; on 3 to 6 a fine black lateral line extending
from the black spot forward along the greater part of the
segment ; lower surface bluish, with black mid-ventral
line. Anal appendages (Fig. 49), upper smaller, swollen

Fig. 4g. — Anai. Appendages of Male of Agrion puella.

Dorsal and Ventral Surfaces.
(After Hagen. in De Selys' " Revue.")

at base, with a small jDointed projection turning down-
wards and slightly inwards ; front of swollen part
yellowish, rest black ; lower, broad and flattened at base,
yellowish, then narrower, turning upwards and outwards,
twisted, point turned inwards.

Female Imago.

Head, thorax, li'iiigs, and legs as in the male, except
that the blue colour is replaced b}' a greenish tint.
Prothorax is ver)- little notched or raised behind.
Abdomen black-bronze and greenish, black covering
nearly the whole of the upper surface ; on segment i, a
large, somewhat semicircular spot attached to the hind-
margin ; 2. with thistle-shaped spot ; 3 to 6 black-bronze,
with a narrow bluish-green circlet interrupted mid-
dorsally ; 7 to 10 bronze, but circlets between them bright
blue, not interrupted ; hind-margin of 10 notched and

286 British Dragonflies.

edged with bluish ; lower surface yellowish-green, with
black mid-ventral line. Anal appendages short, pointed,
dark. Ovipositor red, reaching about the end of the tenth
segment. Valves bluish-green.

Immature Colouring.

In reaching maturity a similar series of colour-changes
is passed through to that mentioned in the case of

A. p/ile/ielliini.

Variation.

In the male the sides of the U on segment 2 are
sometimes separated from the base, so that the spot
consists of three lines. The blue spot on segment 6
varies in size, and the black spot on segment 9 is
sometimes quite divided so as to make two lateral spots.
The female sometimes has the green parts altered to a
decided bluish tint. The pale circlet at the sutures
may on some segments develop into basal bifid spots,
and the bronze spot on segment 2 take the form of the
mercury-spot in the male of A. Dierciiriale, in which
case it is difficult to distinguish the insect from a female
of A. pulcJielluvi, except by the hind-margin of the
pro thorax.

Nymph (Fig. 50).

In shape long and slender ; length, including caudal
lamellae, about 22mm. ; greatest breadth about 2"5mm.
General ground-colour yellowish-green, points and
markings reddish-brown. Head a flattened pentagon ;
transverse measurement about 4mm. ; longitudinal about
2mm. ; lateral edges sloping backwards considerably.

A (^yion.

1S7

Antcnim seven-jointed, the distal one being ver)- small,
basal two stout, others slender ; second dark basally.
Mask flattish, triangular, narrow at hinge ; middle lobe
produced in an obtuse angle, and lightly toothed ; palpi
with a row of teeth along the distal edge, the inner one
being rather larger than the rest ; the sharp, slender

\

/

^(

t/

\

\ \

T*''' '

/

\

\

Fig. 50. — Nymph uf Agrion puella.
(X 3.)

outer movable hooks interlacing when the mask is at
rest ; mask extending to the insertion of the fore-legs ;
a row of hairs near the outer margin of the palpi, and
an interrupted half-circle on the body of the mask.
Eyes rather dark olive-brown, large, somewhat elliptical

288 British Dragon/lies.

in shape, major axis almost transverse. Top of head
with some pahsh spots. Occiput rather broad ; hind-
margin somewhat deepl}' hollowed, covered with reddish-
brown points. Protliorax pentagonal, of fair size.
Mcso-tJioracic spiracles \isible, dark. Thorax covered
with reddish-brown points. \]'iiig-cases straight, of fair
length, about 4mm. Tegs pale ; fore- about 5mm. long,
mid- 6"5mm., hind- 9mm., with rows of reddish-brown
points ; a dark ring on femora and another on tibia;
near the basal joint ; a few very fine hairs on tibia;.
Abdouioi tapering posteriori}' ; joints fairly equal ; each,
except the tenth, bearing on its posterior margin a row
of dark dots ; on segments as far as the eighth a paler
lateral line, and a similar mid-dorsal one bounded on
each side by a dark red-brown line, widest at the base
of the segment and tapering to the distal margin ; the
rest of the abdomen covered above ^^•ith reddish-brown
points, which are rather conspicuous along the lateral
margins of the segments. Caudal lamella about 6mm.
long, without markings, but with a ramification of
tracheae. [Bred on several occasions. The lamella; were
usually lost before emergence ; nevertheless they appear
to be alwa}'S pointed, though some authors have described
them as rounded at the tip.]

Emergence of Imago.

On one occasion an imago was detected in the act
of emerging from the nymph-case. Head, thorax, wings,
legs, and the greater part of the abdomen were out.
The insect appeared to be just at the end of the
"resting" period. It was then erect, as described in
the case of Pyrrhosoina uyutplinla. It ma\', of course,

Agrioii. 289

have thrown itself back earlier, as Liluiliila quadri-
luaciilata, &c., do, but probabh" did not. The part of
the development obser\ed agreed with that described
for P. uvmpJiula.

Date.

May 3 is the earliest date on wliich I have taken the
species, and August 16 the latest. It is at its best
about midsummer.

Habits.

A. pHclla haunts the vegetation by the sides of ponds
and ditches, and the long grass and rushes of damp
meadows near water. Like the rest of the Agrioiiiiue
its flight is weak and not long sustained.

Distribution.

Undoubtedly A. puclla is a very common species in
most parts of England, but apparently it does not occur
in Scotland, and perhaps not in the extreme North of
England. But few records have come to hand, owing no
doubt to the fact that observers think it unnecessary to
record localities for common species — a mistaken idea,
but a \ery prevalent one. Westmoreland : W'indermere,
in immense abundance (\V. H. Bath;*. Yorks/ure :
Selb\-, Thorne, Askham Bog, and Castle Howard (G. T.
Porrittj. C/icsdu're : Chester District, general (J. Arkle).
MerioticthsJiirc : Tan-y-bwlch, common, and Barmouth
(A. D. Imms). CanibridgcsJiiyc : Not common (K. J.

* Entom. 1888, p. 62. In his "Handbook," p. 76(1890), Bath says of
F.. cyatliigeniui that it was in " immense swarms" in tlie same dibtrict.
Thou;,di both species fly together sometimes, it is not usual to iind botir
swarming near the same piece of water.

U

290 British Dragonflies.

Morton); Wicken (G. T. Porrit). Norfolk: Broads,
near Lowestoft (J. Prest). WorccstcrsJiirc : Near Wor-
cester (J. E. Fletcher). Warivickshirc : Sutton Cold-
field, common (R. C. Bradley) ; Birmingham District,
common (/V. D. Imms). O.vfords/iirc : Cowley Marsh
and Shotover Hill (A. H. Hamm) ; Brighthampton (Mr.
Stone, in Oxford Museum) ; near Yarnton (H. R. Smith,
in Oxford Museum). Berkshire : Maidenhead (G. T.
Porritt). Hampshire : New Forest, common (R.
McLachlan). Dorset: Glanvilles Wootton (C. W.
Dale). Surrey : Ockham Common, Chobham Com-
\THtlooX>^ mon, Esher Common, Bookham Common, near Send,

Oxshott, B}'fleet Canal, and Longcross (W. J. L.);
Weybridge (J. E. Tarbat) ; Richmond (H. J. Turner).
y* t^^^r. Sussex : East, common in woods and lanes (G. T.

Porritt) ; near Liphook (W. J. L.). Kent: Deal and
Dover District, common (C. G. Hall). Essex: Near
Epping, common (H. Doubleday) ; Colchester (W. H.
Harwood). Devon : Bovey Tracey (A. H. Hamm) ;
L}'nmouth (C. A. Briggs) ; near Plymouth (G. C.
Bignell). Leiuster : Killucan and Moate (J. J. F. X.
King). Minister: Ross Castle (J. J. ¥. X. King).
Connaiiglit : Carrowbeg River and Knappabeg Laogh
(J. J. Y. X. King). Gitenisey : one (W. A. Luff).

38. Agrion niercuriale, Chaip.

(Plate XX\II.)
Synonymy.

Agrion niereuriale, Charp. Lib. l^ur. 159, t. 42, f. 2
(1840); Selys Rev. Odon. 221 (1850). Hag. Ent. Ann.

ri.ATK XX\'II.

Agrion mercuriale

(:■, 2).
Segments i and 2 (much enlar^ied)-

Enallagma cyathigerum

(.•; -■).

2, Normal Makkini. m Segments i and 2; i and 3, Exceptional Marking (much enlarged).

Agrion, 29 1

60(1857); McLach. Cat. Brit. Xcur. 18 (1870); Ca:u-
agrioii iiicrcurialc, Kirby S\-n. Cat. Neur. Odon. 150
(189O;. Agr. puella, Fonsc. Ann. Soc, Fr., 563 (1838).
Agr. fouscolombii, Ramb. Ins. Nevr. 266 (1842).

Charpentier's description.

Caput ut in praecedentibus ; temporibus valde tumid is,
vertice atro-viridi, maculis duabus lateralibus et linea
intermedia coeruleis (aut virescentibus) in occipite,
Tnmcns. Prothorax perbrevis, antice angustatus, postico
margine in media parte paullisper ascendente, atro-
viridis, undique coeruleo-marginatus. Alitruncus ut in
Agr. furcato [^-^ Agrion puella). Abdomen maris coeruleum.
superne maculis atro-viridibus, in aeneum colorem con-
versis. Segmentum primum maculam quadratam, magnam
habet. Secundum insigne est macula magna, antice
cornua tria referente, medio brevissimo, lateralibus
longioribus, curvatis (vid. figuram fundamentalem,
Tabulae XLII. adiectam) : postice quasi petiolo armata,
et ad marginem segmenti ipsum dilatata, quae hand
inepte cum signo Mercurii chemico comparari potest.
Segmentum tertium postice macula magna, biloba, lobo
anteriore angustiore, acuminato. Ouartum, quintum et
sextum macula magna postica, antice triacuminata ; in
his segmentis intermediis macula atro-viridis dimidiam
fere dorsi partem implet. Septimum superne atro-viride
fere totum. Octavum coeruleum, punctis duobus posticis
atris. Ultima segmenta superne atra. Foeminae abdo-
men subtus virescens, superne atro-viridi-maculatum : in
segmento primo macula magna, quadrata, atra. Secun-
dum macula magna, oblonga, biloba, marginem anticum
non attingente, instructum est : reliqua segmenta

U 2

292 British Dragonflies.

macLilis dorsum fere implentibus, in medio paullulum
angustioribus. (T. de Charpenticr's " Libellulinae

Europaeae," p. 159, t. 42, f. 2.)

Size.

Length of Male, 27mm. to 31mm. ; expanse of wings,
31mm. to 35"5mm. Length of P'emale, 29mm. to 31mm. ;
expanse of wings, 35mm. to 39mm.

Male Imago.

The Head resembles that of A. puclla, except that
the blue spot behind the eyes is almost round. Pro-
tJiorax blackish-bronze, with a blue spot on each side,
and a blue border on all four sides, but slightly inter-
rupted at the middle of the hind margin. The mcso-
and JHcta-thorax also closely resemble the same parts
in A. piiclla. Legs black above, blue below. Wings
hyaline ; pterostigma diamond-shaped with blackish
centre, succeeded by a hyaline ring, and that by a black
border. Abdomen blue above and below, marked with
black-bronze on the upper surface, as follows : On
the first segment a squarish black spot, on the second
one resembling the usual sign for the planet Mercury
(Plate XXVII., c) ; the next four segments have spots at
the hinder end, prolonged in front into a lanceolate
point in the third and fourth, and sometimes in the
fifth, and even the sixth. The seventh segment is
almost entirely black, and the eighth is blue, usually
with two tiny spots ; the ninth has the posterior half
black, bordered behind with blue ; and the tenth is
black, notched behind, and there edged with blue. The
appendages are about as long as the tenth segment, and

Agrion.

293

their peculiar shape will be seen from Fig. 51, the
roundish lobe being blue, the rest chiefl\' black. The
spot on the second segment somewhat resembles that

Fig. 51. — Anal Appkndagk.s of Male of Agrion Mercuri.\le.

Dorsal and Ventral View.
(After Hagen, in De Selys' "Revue.")

on the second segment of the female of A. piilcJiellinn,
but the size and the sex should determine the species.

Female Imago.

In the female the blue colouring is replaced by
greyish-green, except for the hinder edge of the seventh
and eighth segments, which is in each case bright
blue. The black-bronze spots nearly fill the dorsal sur-
face, except a band along the anterior edge : the spot
on the second segment is thistle-shaped ; the centre of
the pterostigma is rather pale brown. The smaller size, the
circular spot behind the eyes and the blue margin to
the seventh and eighth segments should be sufficient to
distinguish the female of this species from that of
A. puclla^ which it in other respects closely resembles.

Immature Colouring.

The male passes through the same yellow, grey and

294 British Dragonflies.

lavender tints in reaching maturity as does A. puclla or
E. cycithigcntni.

Variation.

There is considerable difference in size, especially
among the males, two that I took in the New Forest in
August, 1898, being particularly small. In addition to
this the shape of the various spots, and the amount of
the segment which an}' particular one covers, is very
inconstant. The distinctive spot on the second segment
is sometimes lightly, and at others heavily, delineated ;
its m.ethod of attachnicnt to the circlet posterior to it,
or the absence of the attachment, might cause the insect
to be confused with A. pnlchellum on the one hand, or
A. pnella on the other, if the examination of the insect
were too cursory.

Oviposition.

Attention has been called b}' Mr. McLachlan to an
interesting fact in connection with this insect. In Savoy,
in 1884, the season being very dry, he saw the females of
certain Agrions, chiefly A. uicrcuriale, ovipositing in wet
mud, which proceeding he was led to discover by
noticing that certain of them " when fl>'ing were
conspicuous on account of the whitish colour of the
whole, or a portion, of the abdomen. On examination
these proved to be always females, and the whitish colour
due to an incrustation of mud ; in some it was only
at the tip of the abdomen, in others for its whole length
(nearly an inch). The explanation was obvious. These
females had been engaged in oviposition, and some
instinct had prompted them to sink their eggs as deeply
as possible in the mud, so as to afford some chance of

Agrion. 295

escape from the consequence of further evaporation." *
The nicrcnrialc that I met with in the New Forest
seemed to prefer fast running" streams rather than muddy
ditches, though of course they may not oviposit in tlie
former, for there was a bog close at hand, on which
indeed several were seen.

Date.

Mr. McLachlan has taken it in Junef in the New
Forest, and I have myself found it there as late as
August 14, when it was by no means over.

Nymph.

Lcnotli, including caudal lamella:?, i6mm. ; ividtJi of
abdomen r75mm. Head, somewhat pentagonal, rather
narrow from front to back. Eyes rather large, in posi-
tion and shape resembling those of P. iiyiiipliula.
AntoDuc seven-jointed, basal two joints stout, rest
slender, second and third long, others decreasing to
tip, distal one small ; a ring of hairs round the more
slender joints near apical end. Mask flat, of the usual
Agrionine shape, extending to the insertion of the first
pair of legs ; palpi bearing a row of hairs near the
outer margin ; part of a circle of hairs on body of
mask ; middle lobe making nearly a right angle, margin
serrated ; tip of palpus with inner point sharp, and
outer cut squarish and notched ; movable hook long,
curved, sharp. A double pale spot on tof^ of head,
and some brown markings, but not definite on the
empty case. Oeciput appears to be ver}- narrow in
centre with dark marks on front margin ; sides sloping

*E. M. M., 1S85, p. 211. fE. M. M. 1896, p. 181.

296 British Dragonflies.

much backwards, and covered with rough points ; hind-
margin concave. Protliorax, shape much as in E. cy-
.athigerum, dark lateral corners. J\Ieso-thoracic spiracles
dark, exposed in empty skin. Thorax covered with
dark points. Wing-cases about 4mm. long, extending
nearly to the fourth segment. Legs very pale ; apical
end of distal joint of tarsus darker ; length of fore-legs
about 5mm., of mid-legs 5*5mm., of hind-legs 7mm.
Abdomen pale ; an indication of a paler line down
centre, with a very slightly darker margin, which is a
little more pronounced at the sutures ; there are indi-
cations of a slight spot on each segment in the
browner line outside the pale mid-dorsal one ; near
each lateral carina is a line of dark spots at the
sutures ; a line of points round the hind margin of the
tenth segment. Caudal lanielUv very short, length 3mm.;
the right hand one was lost ; possibly the other two
are newh'-grown ones, but they hardly appear to be
so, if not the size will distinguish the species from
other Agrions ; pointed, narrow, width about 4- of length ;
mid-rib stout, branches few and not easily seen ; mar-
gins spined as far as cross-line, hair\' thence to the
tip ; cross-line about a third of length from tip. [From
a New Forest nymph taken amongst some Platycneviis
pejiuipes, but unrecognised. It produced a male imago
on June 23. The description was therefore made from
an empty nymph-case, which was very transparent, and
of a pale brown colour.]

Habits.

A. nierciiriale in the New Forest flies low and slowly
amongst the herbage along the margins of streams or
over boggy ground near them.

Enallagma. 297

Distribution.

The onh' known habitat of this species in the British
Isles is tlie New Forest, in Hampshire. Here in two
or three centres connected with the Lymington river
it ma}- be found, and at least in one of them rather
commonl}\ In this last locality the insect seems
luckil\- to have a strong hold, and consequently
there is little fear of its extermination in the
near future. If strict search were made it would
probably be found in fresh spots in the Forest, and
perhaps in other parts of the South of England and
Ireland also. On the wing, A. incrcurialc closely
resembles A. pnlcliclluin, A. piiclla, and A. cyatJiigcnim,
its near relatives, and perhaps this resemblance may
sometimes cause it to be passed over unnoticed.
Mr. C. W. Dale has in his collection specimens from
Glanvilles W'ootton, in Dorset, and from Winchester,
but the localit}- at the former place has now been
drained, and that at the latter is no longer known.

39. Enallagma cyathigerum, Charp.

(Plate XXVII).
Synonymy.

Agrion cyatJiigcnim, Charp. Lib. Eur. 163, t. 42, f. i
(1840); Selys Rev. Odon. 205 (1850) ; Hag. Ent.
Ann. 60 (1857); McLach. Cat. Brit. Neur. 18 (1870).
Enallagma cyatJiigerum, Kirb}^ S\'n. Cat. N^eur. Odon.
145 (1890). Agr. hastiilatuui, Stcph. Illustr. Brit. Ent.

igS Bi'itish Dragonflics.

Mand. vi. 74 (1836) [name preoccupied]. ^g^"- piit-
cJiniiii O, Hag. Syn. Lib. luir. 80 (1840). Agr. c/iar-
toitieri, Sel}-s Rew Zool. 214 (1840). -^gf- brunuca,
Evans, Brit. Lib. 15, pi. 4, f. 8 (1845). Airens {!) Harr.
Expos. Eng. Ins., t. 29, f. 3, 4 (1782).

Charpentier's description.

" Caput ut in congcnericis. Tniucus. Prothorax tri-
angularis, margine postico pauxillum rotundato ; undique
coeruleo-limbato ; maculis duabus lateralibus coeruleis,
distinctis. Alitruncus atro-aeneus, lateribus coeruleis : in
collari strigae duae valde distinctae, coeruleae. Reliquae
alitrunci partes, sicuti alae et pedes, uti in specie praecedente
[= Ag. l!iuHlatHiii\ comparatae. Abdomen paullo longius
et gracilius, quam in Agr. liinnlato : coeruleum.
In segmento marium primo macula est basalis
minima, atra. Secundum liabet marginem posticum
atrum, et in jjartc postica maculam magnam,
orbiculatam, atram, stylo cum margine postico
segmenti cohaerentem. Similes maculae in segmentis tertio
et sequentibus usque ad septimum, maculae autem in his
sunt magis elongatae, et in posticis acuminatae, longiores.
Octavum et nonum segmentum coeruleum totum.
Decimum superne atrum, postice profunde excisum —
Foeminarum segmentum primum uti in maribus est
comparatum : secundinn insigne est macula antice
posticeque margini annata, antice ijaullulum latiore,
et ad postica, ante fincm, in lobulimi orbicularem
dilatata. Sequentia segmenta media macula magna,
elongata, antice acuminata, postice, ante finem, dilatata
picta sunt. Septimum et octavum postice atro-
viridia fere tota, qui color acum.ine tenui marginem

Efiallagma. 299

segmenti anticum tangit. Ultima duo segmenta in
medio dorso atra. Appendices marium superiores
brevissimae, \ix extra abdomen conspicuae, globulares,
subpilosae, fuscae. Inferiores longiores, laterales cur\'atae
cylindricae, atrae. Foeminarum appendices brevissimae,
conicae, obtusae, et fiit videtur) cocrulescentes." (T. de
Charpentier's " Libellulinae Europaeae," p. 163, pi. xlii.,
f. I, 1840).

Size.

Length of Male, 31mm. to 33mm. ; expanse of wings,
36mm. to 39mm. ; Length of Female, 29.5mm. to 33mm. ;
expanse of wings, 37mm. to 40mm.

Male Imago.

Head blackish-bronze above, face and eyes blue ; two
pear-shaped blue spots on the occiput, with their tails
pointing towards the middle line. ProtJiorax triangular,
rounded behind ; it is bordered in front with blue, and
much more narrowl}- behind, while there is a blue spot
on each side. Mcso- and mctcx-tJwrax blue, the upper
surface of the former with three black bands, a broad
medio-dorsal one, and a narrower one on each side.
Wings hyaline ; the diamond-shaped pterostigma black.
Legs black above, greenish-blue below. Alwioineii blue,
with bronze-black markings, whose arrangement will be
best seen from the figure. The second segment bears an
elliptical spot (Plate XXVII., /;;, usuall)- connected with
the hind marginal circlet, this spot affording a read}'
means of distinguishing the species. I^owqv anal appeudages
rather long and slender, turned in at the point, which is

^oo

British Dragonflics.

rather sharp. They are longer than the upper ones,
and all are blackish in colour (Fig. 52).

Female Imago.

In the female the blue colour is replaced by greyish-
green. The upper surface of the abdomen bears on seg-
ments 3 to 8 a bronze-black spot, somewhat conical in
shape but with curved sides ; the base of these spots is
posterior, consequently the ground-colour is left visible
at the anterior part of each segment near the preceding
circlet. On the second segment the spot is thistle-

FiG. 52. — Anal Appendages of Male of Enallagma cvathigerum.

Dorsal and Ventral View.
(After Hager, in De SelyL* "Revue".)

shaped, while on the ninth and tenth segments it
occupies almost the whole of the upper surface. Anal
appendages reddish. Vuliuir sea/es rather small. The
hind-margin of the eighth segment terminates below
in a stout black spine.

Immature Colouring.

When newly disclosed the perfect insects are of a
dingy yellow colour. In the male this soon becomes

Enallazma. %o\

pale lavender with dark grey spots, and ultimately
bright blue with blackish-bronze spots. In the female it
becomes greyish-green with bronze spots.

Variation.

The spots var)' somewhat in shape, and the distinctive
one on the second segment of the male is sometimes
reduced to a mere transverse streak, quite disconnected
from the circlet (Plate XXVII., c) ; onthe other hand, the
front margin of the spot is often produced into a short
point (Plate XXVII., a). On the Continent these varia-
tions (the former especially) sometimes lead to confusion
with neighbouring species. In the female the ground-
colour is sometimes blue, as in the male, instead of
greyish-green. Charpentier figures"^ this as the typical
form, but my experience bears out the opinion of
De Selyst that it occurs much more rarcl)' than the
greenish form.

Oviposition.

From the colour and markings it was probably a
female of E. cyatliigcriim that the writer was able to
observe ovipositing near B}'fleet, in Surre)^ on Jul\' i6,
1898. A pair of Agrionines, united per coll, settled on
a water-weed, and shortly afterwards the female was
noticed descending below the surface, one or two inches
at least, and she appeared to be ovipositing. On an
attempt being made to catch the male, which was
hovering over the spot, she was frightened, and came to
the surface. She did not seem to be wetted, but was

* '■ Libellulina? Europaz'iv," tab. xlii., lig. i.
t •' Revu^ des Odonates," p. 208.

302

British Dragonflies.

surrounded with a coatint:^ of air, the surface-film of the
water next which gHstened hkc sih'er. She appeared to
lay some eggs, or, at any rate, dip the end of her
abdomen before descending, and even while flying.

In shape closely resembling that of Al. jiincecx ;
length about imm., breadth about •2mm. ; spindle-

FiG. 53. — Mask of Nvmph of Enallagma cvathigerum.

(Much magnified,)

shaped, more pointed at one end than at the other,
rather broader near the sharp end ; transjiarent, or ver}'
nearly so, and colourless ; granular in structure. [The
eggs were taken from a female captured about the
middle of September. Thc\' were few in number, no
doubt owing to the lateness of the date.] (Fig- 4,
No. 6.)

Enallai:iiia.

303

Nymph.

Colour bri<j;ht L;rccn in general. Length, including
caudal lamellae, about 20mm. ; greatest i^'idth about
2'5mm. Head pentagonal ; rather narrow from front to
back ; width 4min. ; a few darker and lighter markings
on the top. Eyes dark ; somewhat elliptical ; major
axis almost transverse. Aufcfiuw se\en-jointed ; basal

Fig. 54. — Caudal lamella of Nvmph of Enallagma cyathigerim.

(Much magnified.)

two swollen ; rest more slender ; second long ; sixth and
seventh intimately united. Mas/c of the usual Agrio-
nine shape (Fig. 53;, extending to the insertion of the
first pair of legs ; a row of six long hairs on each
palpus near the margin, and two rows of four or five
forming a disconnected line on the body of the mask ;

504 British Dragonjlies.

middle lobe obtuse-angled, margin serrated ; palpus with
inner margin serrated ; distal margin notched, and with
a sharp, internal point ; movable hook rather short, sharp.
Occiput rather narrow; sides slojDing much backwards;
corners rather rough ; hind-margin \ery concave. Pro-
thorax somewhat pentagonal ; lateral corners rather sharp
and dark. Thorax fairly smooth, and uniform in tint.
]Viug-cascs about 5mm. long, reaching about to the
end of the fourth segment. Legs of moderate length ;
fore- about 7mm., mid- 8mm, hind- iimm.; sometimes
indications of a ring near distal end of femora ;
distal end of tibia; and tarsi rather darker ; several
longitudinal lines of rough points ; no hairs visible in
dry specimens ; rather longer spines on tibiae and
tarsal joints. Abdomen with a slightly paler line
along each side ; a mid-dorsal, broad, dark line on all
the visible segments except the tenth, containing a large
elliptical, or pear-shaped pale basal spot, this spot
having in its centre a longitudinal still paler line ; on
the sutures two mid-dorsal dark spots, with a fainter
one on each side ; upper surface of abdomen with
numerous small rough points ; end of tenth segment
triangular, apex being dorsal and raised somewhat,
margin with a ring of points. Caudal laiiicllic 5-5mm.
long, broad, sharp-pointed ; trachea; much-branched and
conspicuous ; a dark cross-line a little beyond the
middle of each lamella, and generally a fainter one
more distal and parallel to it ; margin spin}' along the
basal part as far as the cross-line, hairy round the
distal part (Fig. 54). [Bred on several occasions, and
empty nymph-cases found when the imagines were
emerging.]

Enallagvia. 305

Date.

Not onl)' is this species one of the earHest to appear
in the spring, but it is also one of the last to dis-
appear in the autumn. Mr. C. A. Briggs records it as
early as April 28, in 1893, at Ockham Common, while
in 1897 I saw it at Esher Common as late as
September 29. It is, however, possible that there is a
second emergence in the latter part of the season, or,
at an}- rate, that individuals continue to emerge irregu-
larl}- during the summer.

Habits.

Ponds, canals, lakes, and streams, where the surface
of the water is not too much hidden by water-weeds,
appear to be the favourite haunts of this delicateh'-
coloured little Dragonfly. Here, amongst the rushes
and long grass near the banks, or often, if the sun is
shining, over the surface of the open water, the\' may
sometimes be seen in swarms. Often, too, numbers
may be found sunning themselves on dry land, fl\'ing
close to the surface of the ground, and this is the
cause, no doubt, why, on Esher Common, so man\' are
captured b}" the snares of the Round-leaved .Sundew
i Droscra rotuudifolia). This Dragonfly often haunts
the same locality as its very close relative, A. puclla^
though one is usuall)' more plentiful than the other.
The range of the former, however, is much more
extended in the British Isles than that of the latter.

Distribution.

Though no localities have been noted for Wales, it
may fairh' be assumed that E. cyatJiigej'nm is well

X

3o6 British Dragonflies.

distributed throughout the British Isles, but as in the case
of other common species, few seem to have troubled to
record its occurrence. The following have come to
hand : — Shetland : North Delting, Mainland (R. Godfrey).
Inverness: Strathglass, very common, Kinrara, in Kin-
gussie district, common (J. J. F. X. King). Argyle :
Oban (De Selys)''^ ; Dalmally, Ledaig, and Tobermory
(J. J. F. X. King). Perthshire : Rannoch, abundant
(G. T. Porritt) ; Lochan nan Damh, in the Breadalbane
district, probably (K. J. Morton). Lanarkshire : Carluke
(K. J. Morton). Cumberland : Keswick (E. B. Bishop).
Westmoreland : Near Windermere, immense swarms
(W. H. Bath) ; Grasmere and Rydal Water (J. J. F. X.
King). Lancashire : Heysham Moss (J. Arkle). York-
shire : Barnsley (J. Harrison) ; Huddersfield, Wakefield,
Askern, and Castle Howard (G. T. Porritt). Cheshire :
Delamere Forest, very common (J. Arkle). Stafford-
shire : Cannock Chase (R. C. Bradley). Warivicksliire :
Sutton Coldfield, very common (R. C. Bradley).
Cambridgeshire : Thorney River, common (K. J. Morton).
Essex: Epping Forest (H. Doubleday, 1871). Somerset-
shire : Exmoor (W. J. L.). Dorsetshire : Glanvilles
Wootton (C. W. Dale). Hampshire : New Forest
(W. J. L.). Surrey: Richmond Park, Esher Common
(plentiful), Ockham Common, Chobham Common, Book-
ham Common, near Pyrford, and near Byfleet (W. J. L.) ;
Merton (J. S. Brocklesby) ; Weybridge (J. E. Tarbat).
Sussex: Near Liphook (W. J. L.). Kent: Gravesend
Marshes (H. J. Turner). Ulster: Armagh (J. J. V. X.
King) ; near Glasslough, Co. Monaghan (K. J. Morton) ;

* " Revue des Odonatcs," pji. 208, 20<).

Enallagiiux. 307

Belfast (De Selys)."^ Lcinstcr : Twy Laogh and Coosan
Point (J. J. F. X. King) ; Dublin (Miss Ball, teste
De Selys).^ Munster : Ross Castle, Denough River, and
Ardagh Laogh (J. J. F. X. King). Connauglit : Carrovv-
beg River, Small, Kip, and Knappagh Laoghs, and
Ma'ammee Laogh (J. J. F. X. King). Jersey : Probably
(R. McLachlan).

" Revue des Odonates," pp. 208, 209.

X 2

CHAPTER VII.

REPUTED BRITISH SPECIES.

Besides the thirty-nine (or forty) species of Dragon-
flies treated in the preceding pages, about seven others
have found places on the British Hst. None of them
can now, however, lay a satisfactory claim to a position
there. In most cases only one, or else two, examples
have occurred ; in all cases the occurrence took place
a long time since ; and in several cases the authenticit}'
of the capture stands on a very insecure foundation.
Four of the species here referred to belong to the
Anisoptcridcs, and therefore might have arri\-ed as
" casual immigrants." The other three are Zygoptcridcs,
with regard to which such a supposition seems out of
the question. x'\ll three of the last belong to the genus
Lestes^ the species of which genus are not very easily
distinguished, and if they ever were here it appears
necessary to draw the conclusion that they were here as
natives. It will be well to examine as closely as ma\^
be the case for each of these seven insects seriatim.

I. Leucorrhinia pectoralis, Charp. — At the meeting
of the Entomological Society of London on January 2,
i860 (" Proceedings," New Series, v., p. 89), a specimen
of this Dragonfly, taken in June near Sheerness, was

Reputed BritisJi Species. 309

exhibited by Mr. Groves. Mr. McLachlan believes that
the capture was made on board a fishing boat at the
mouth of the Thames ; in which case the insect never
really landed on British soil. The specimen no longer
exists, but, as it was seen by Dr. Hagen, there is no
cause for doubting its authenticity. It is a larger insect
than L. diibia, but resembles it rather closely. In
L. pectoralis, however, the basal black spot on the fore-
wings is small, or absent, the pterostigma is black, and
the spot on the seventh segment is yellow in the male,
and occupies nearly the whole of the segment.

2. Sympetrum meridionale, Selys. — The claim of
this insect to a position on the British list rests on two
females of old date. One of these, from " near London,"
was in Evans' collection, which now forms part of that
of Mr. C. W. Dale, of Glanvilles Wootton, in Dorset.
The other, from the " South of England," was in Wailes'
collection, and of it Mr. McLachlan says : " It is truly
this species, and bears e\'idence of having been sent to
Mr. Wailes b}- the late Mr. J. C. Dale, for it bears a
label vicridioualis in the handwriting of the latter."
At the sale of Mr. Wailes' collection at Stevens', May 14,
1S84, this specimen was bought by Dr. Mason, of
Burton-on-Trent. It belongs to the division of the
genus possessing crimson body and yellowish legs, and
resembles the common ^". striolatnni ; but the sides of
the thorax are }'ellow, nearly unicolorous, and without
black lines, while in the female the vulvar scale is
rounded and not prominent.

3. Lindenia forcipata, Linn. — Stephens' collection in
the British Museum contains a single female of this

3IO British Dragonflies.

species in poor condition. Of it De Selys says (" Revue,"
p. lOo) that Stephens assured him that he took it near
London. Exact date and locality do not seem to be
forthcoming, but in any case the insect can only be
looked upon as a " casual immigrant." In general
colouring it closely resembles GompJius vulgatissimus,
but the build of the abdomen is very different in the
two species, as are also the shapes of the various yellow
markings. The male has remarkable anal appendages,
which are doubled in towards each other at right angles.

4. Gomphus fiavipes, Charp. — In Stephens' collection
in the British Museum is a male of this species in
good condition. It was captured by Stephens near
Hastings, on August 5, 1818 ; and his "Illustrations of
English Insects," Vol. VI., contains a good coloured
figure of the specimen. Like the last insect, it is
simply a " casual immigrant " ; but the exact date and
locality give it a better standing. This insect closeh-
resembles G. vulgatissimns, but may be known from it
by the yellow legs streaked with black, by the dorsal
yellow spots being continued beyond the seventh
segment to the end of the abdomen, and by the
different arrangement of yellowish stripes on the front
of the thorax.

5. Lestes viridis, Lind. — Of this species De Selys
(" Revue," p. 149) says that he saw in Mr. Evans'
collection a specimen, which the latter assured De Selys
that he took in England. Evans' collection passed into
the hands of the late Mr. J. C. Dale, and Mr. McLachlan
says that his son (Mr. C. W. Dale) cannot now trace
it. (E. M. M., 1884, p. 254.) In the Entomologist

Reputed British Species. 3 1 1

(1873, p. 452), Mr. C. S. Gregson says that in the
Delamere Forest neighbourhood Lcstes viridis was
plentiful : this, of course, must be a case of mistaken
identity. It may be recognised by the large bright
russet pterostigma and the whitish-yellow upper anal
appendages of the male.

6. Lestes virens. Charp. — One specimen was in
Stephens' collection, and is now in the British Museum ;
it was said to have been taken in the New Forest. A
second specimen " was recorded from Leach's collection "
(McLachlan, E. M. M., 1884, p. 254), or from Stephens'
(Hagen Ent. Ann., 1857, p. 57). Mr. H. Doubleday also
recorded it from Epping (E. M. M., 1871, p. 87). Mr.
Doubleday told Mr. McLachlan that Stephens' specimens
were, he believed, taken by himself at Epping, and
that Stephens afterwards confounded the localities. In
his "British Dragonflies Annotated," in E. M. M., 1884,
pp. 251-256, Mr. McLachlan says: "In placing L. virens
in this category [i.e. of species whose British origin is
doubtful) I am aware that a doubt is cast upon the late
Henry Doubleda}-'s discrimination, owing solely to the
great difficulty that often attends the determination of
the species of Lcstes. I never saw Mr. Doubleday's
Dragonflies, and it is possible that had I seen them in
1 87 1, I might then have arrived at no satisfactory
conclusion with regard to L. vircnsT The species may
be recognised by the presence on the under side of the
thorax of three tiny black spots on each side to the
rear of the hind-legs.

7. Lestes barbara., Fabr. The only claim this insect
has to a position on the British list is the presence of a

312 British Dragonfiies.

male in the Dublin Museum, which was believed to
have been taken in Ireland. On such slender grounds
the species should never have been admitted. It may
be recognised by the pterostigma, the internal half of
which is brown, the external half }-ellow.

In the earlier British lists, Lihelliila sparshalli. Dale,
M. S. { = Pautala flaveseens, Fabr.) appears, of which
Curtis says that it was taken at Horning in 1823 by the
late Mr. J. Sparshall, and that it was very similar to a
Chinese species. De Selys says that it is " without any
doubt erroneous," and in consequence omits it from the
" Revue " — a course followed by subsequent writers.
{vide " Revue des Odonates," p. 260).

Mr. H. Doubleday in his Epping list mentions his
having seen a Cordiilia with yellow markings on the
dorsal surface of the abdomen. He took it to be
Oxygastra enrtisii ; but Mr. McLachlan suggests that
it may have been Soinatoclilora fiavoiiiaciilata, Lind.
(E. M. M. 1884, p. 256).

CHAPTER VIII.

BREEDING THE NYMPH.

When a lepidopterist wishes to obtain specimens of
butterflies or moths in the best of condition, he does
so by breeding the imago from egg, larva, or pupa.
A collector of the Odonata, on the other hand, to
attain the same object must leave breeding alone, and
try to catch the imagines after they have been a week
or so upon the wing. Should he, however, desire to
study the life-histor}- of the various Dragonflies, equally
with the lepidopterist, he must resort to breeding.

It is not an eas}- matter to obtain living eggs of
Dragonflies. To search for them after they have been
laid is almost a hopeless task,- nor is it an easy
matter to induce the female to deposit its ova in
captivity. Occasionally one caught ovipositing may
deposit a iew more eggs in a collecting-box, and these
placed at once in water would no doubt generally
hatch. If a female is held b\- the wings over a vessel

*Mr. A. Miiller, writing in the E. M. M., 1871, p. 127, says that by
sinking a piece of brown paper to the bottom of a pond, and keeping it
down by weights, he secured an egg of Syiiipctniui Jlavt'oluiii, and a
similar method might be employed to obtain the ova of other Dragonflies
that simply drop their eggs into the water.

314 British Dragonflies.

of water, into which the extremity of her abdomen
is allowed to dip, she may be induced to oviposit.
This method has been adopted with success in the
case of Sympetrum striolatiiiii , which insect, as well as
.S". scoticuiii, are species that will sometimes oviposit in
a pill-box without the inducement of the water.

From the Q%'g proceeds a tiny nymph, about imm.
in length, which for its sustenance requires living beings
of still smaller size than itself The difficulty there-
fore arises of finding materials — water-weeds and mud —
containing such tiny creatures, and not at the same
time any, large or ferocious enough, to make a meal
of the nymph instead. Careful selection and close
examination are the means to be employed to attain
this end. The same care must be used in the selection
of any provender that it may be found necessary after-
wards to supply. A little material from a well-stocked
pool might be strained through muslin, and the residue,
after careful examination, be washed off into the vessel
containing the little n}-mphs.

Since the nymphs at this age, amongst weeds or on
mud, are extremely difficult to \\-atch, most naturalists
will probably prefer to commence their study of them
at a somewhat later stage, and so will try to catch
the nymphs when partly grown. With this object
search should be made for them, especially between
the months of October and May,^ amongst the weeds
and dead leaves, or on the surface of the mud in ponds,

*Mr. R. M. Whattson says that on the first day's thaw after a severe
frost on one occasion, he broke the ice (i^in. thick) on a pool and took
more nymphs than he would on a summer's day. They must have been
near the surface, as he broke a hole only large enough for the net. wliich
he swept round under the ice {in litt., January 24, 1897).

Breeding the Nymph. 315

canals, ditches, and so on, where the various imaginal
Dragonflies have in previous seasons been noticed to
resort.

In the search the implement employed is a small
dredging net about 6in. in diameter, with a stiff iron
ring and a tough, but porous, bag (cheese-cloth is a very-
good material to use). This may be carried in the
pocket or satchel, and fastened to a walking-stick at the
scene of operations. In addition, several tin boxes will
be required in which to carry home the spoil, for the
n}'mphs will live for hours, if not days, packed rather
lightly in damp moss, and certainly travel better thus
confined than when subjected to continual jolting in a
bottle of water.^

When, after a dip, the heterogeneous contents of the
net are turned out on the bank, the nymphs — especially
the larger ones — often remain c^uite still for a time, as
if feigning death, and as in colour they usually resemble
the weeds and mud, or bits of stick and other rubbish,
they may easil)' be passed over ; but they soon
begin to crawl. In some localities certain of the
Agrionine nymphs may be taken in swarms, but other
species, that with them or in other localities as imagines
are equally common, can only be obtained with the
greatest difficult)', and after lengthened periods of
dredging.t The search goes on in patience till a
sufficient supply of nymphs has been obtained. On
reaching home they must be turned out into a basin

* For passage through the post nymphs should be packed in the same way,
and they will take no harm from a long journey.

f Gomphus vulgatissiinus appears to burrow in the mud, and perhaps other
flat-bodied species may do the same.

ii6 British Dragonjlies.

of water and carefully sorted, with the assistance of the
analytical tables on pp. 40-44. The different species as
far as can be ascertained, must be kept separate, and
even the individuals of different size, but of the same
species, must be treated in the same way, for Dragonfly
nymphs have not the slightest hesitation about preying
upon their smaller brethren. Indeed, one may even fall
a victim to another of its ozvn size just after an ecdysis,
while the new skin is soft and its owner helpless. It is
clear, therefore, that even those of the same size and
kind must not be overcrowded ; but providing a plenti-
ful supply of suitable food will go a great way to keep
in the background their cannibal instincts.

With regard to food, the common fresh-water shrimp
{Gainmanis fiiiviatilis) seems to be much relished by
many of the larger nymphs — the Anisopteridcs. In the
spring tadpoles may be given, and to the /Eschnas a
tiny red worm always appears a tempting morsel. But
most living creatures that are not too large are readily
taken. A slender Myriapod once given to a large
nymph was, however, quickly rejected with signs of
evident dislike. The Zygoptcridcs require smaller
provender, and for them water-fleas, or animals of about
that size, are suitable ; but they are able to see and take
very small creatures, and also, on the other hand, larger
ones than would be expected.

For purposes of study the nymphs may be kept in
ordinary fish-globes containing mud and weeds, and a
snail or two to keep the glass clean. Dead leaves and
bits of stick should also be supplied, for some nymphs
like to hide under the former, and others to rest upon
the latter. When the larger n}'mphs have been kept

Breeding the Nymph. 317

thus in captivit}- for some time they seem to become
ahnost tame, and to watch for their meals. As soon as
a shrimp or a worm is dropped into the water the move-
ment seems to be communicated to them, or they sight
the intruder, and turn their head on one side to watch
it in a ver}- knowing" manner, The}- then steahhily
approach. The shrimp pcrha])s is still for a moment ;
they wait till it begins to move, then out shoots the
mask, and the prey is secured, though not alwa\'S at
the first shot. If a house-fl\^ is dropped on the surface
of the water its struggles soon attract a nymph, which
comes up to the surface to fetch it. and in that case
the whole process of capture may be easih' observed.

When the time for emergence is near at hand pieces
of stick, with knots or projections to give foothold, must
be fastened in an upright position in the fish-globes, or
other aquaria, so that the nymphs may be able to leave
the water for their final change. It is not easy to
secure the sticks in the requisite position in a glass
fish-globe ; but the exercise of a little ingenuity will no
doubt bring about the required result. Ever}' part must
overhang the water, for restless nymphs sometimes fall
before they have finally taken up a position for the
change.

At certain intervals the growing nymph will cast its
skin, and these casts should be preserved in alcohol
or a from 2 to 5 per cent, solution of formalin. In
addition skins from which the imagines have emerged
should be preserved, either in the solutions just men-
tioned, or mounted on pieces of card. In the latter case
different specimens should be placed in various positions,
so that by the aid of one or other all parts ma}' be

3i8 British Dragonfiies.

examined. Should only a single nymph-case be obtained,
it may be mounted at the end of a thin strip of card-
board, placed at right angles to the long axis of the
body. The empty case is extremely light, and a very
small surface need be in contact with the card. The
spot chosen had better be about half-way down the
ventral surface of the abdomen, where nothing that is
likely to need examination is found. The pin and
label should be placed at the other end of the strip of
cardboard. If a good supply of nymphs is available,
some had better be preserved in one of the solutions
before the imagines emerge. The mounted n\'mphs may
be placed in the cabinet with the perfect Dragonflies,
or, if they seem to detract from the appearance of the
latter, they may be placed in a drawer by themselves,
which will allow of comparison with one another, a
connection quite as important as that between them-
selves and the perfect insects to which they give rise.

CHAPTER IX.

PREPARING FOR THE CABINET.

To secure some of the more powerful butterflies is often
no easy matter, but the task is a hght one compared
with that of capturing many of the larger Dragonflies.
Not only are their speed and power of flight greater,
but they also seem to exhibit a high degree of
intelligence in avoiding the collector's net. He must
combat this by using a larger net, and possibly a
telescopic handle, and by employing strategy, such as
hiding motionless by the side of bushes near a Dragon-
fly's track, so that it may be thrown off its guard, and
approach within reach of its enemy's net. When the
chance occurs no bungling stroke must be made, or the
Dragonfly is usually gone for ever.

We presume, however, that the capture has been
made. What is to be done with the prisoner ? Pill-
boxes of so great a diameter would be required for one
of the larger species, that to carr\' any number home
alive will generally be a difficult matter, though it must
be done if possible. The smaller species should always
be boxed, and if the larger must be killed on the spot,
the cyanide bottle should be used, or else benzine or

320 British Di'agonjiies.

chloroform, \\hich may be dropped on the thorax.
Benzine is quickly effective, but that and chloroform
both make the insects stiff for a time, and for the
sake of the colours are not recommended. They may
then be pinned in the collecting-box, or folded in
papers, but not tightly enough to flatten the abdomen,
the paper packet being then pinned in the box.*

In general, within an hour or so the insects must
be attended to, if they are to m.ake good cabinet
specimens, and here the Odonatist, unlike the collector
of the Lcpidoptcra, is confronted with a great difficult}-
— that of preserving the colours of his captures. Some
take no trouble at all about the matter, with the
result that, except for size and shape, many of their
insects present a uniform appearance — a dingy black-
brown hue replacing the gorgeous colouring of the
living insects ; and it must be confessed that, except in
a few species, in which the colours fade but little in
any case, the freshness and brightness of the original
tints will always depart to a great extent. But A\'ith
care and attention something may be done.

If the insects are kept without food for a day or
two — a state of affairs to which the\^ must be accus-
tomed in dull weather— the intestines become practically
empty, and when they are killed there is little to
decompose, consequently the colours fade but little, for

* Dr. Hageii recommends folding the Dragonflies alive in paper in this
way, and pinning the packet in the collecting-box. — " Eutom. Weekly
Intelligencer," vol. iv., p. 88. Mr. J. J. F. X. King suggests the use of
a circular tin box, in which the Dragonflies may be placed in layers. After
an insect has been killed, and its wings have been folded, it is placed in the
box and covered with a disc of paper ready cut : another Dragonfly is placed
on this, and then another sheet of paper, and so on, till the box is full.

preparing for the Cabinet. 321

it appears to be the decomposition of the contents
of the body that causes the loss of colour. It will
soon be discovered that a certain number of specimens
do not lose their colours even if they receive no
special treatment, and the cause of it may be that they
have been fasting. Hence it is suggested that the
morning is a good time to collect, especially after a
period of dull weather. To obtain specimens while the
intestines are empt}', or to keep them alive till that
consummation has been reached, is the onl)' course of
procedure that it is o[)en to ])ursuc in the case of the
Agrioiiiucc.

With man}' of the larger species most collectors will
take stronger measures than this. The usual method
is with a pair of sharp-pointed dissecting scissors to
make a slit as soon as possible after death along the
ventral surface of the abdomen. Then, the insect
being held in the left hand b}- the wings,^ the points
of a pair of rather slender dissecting forceps are
inserted in the slit near the thorax. W^ith these the
intestines are seized, and, if care is used, nearly the
whole of the contents of thorax and abdomen are
brought away together in one long tube. What is left
must be picked awa}' little by little, if possible, without
touching the inside of the skin, for it is in a delicate
film there situated that the colouring matter is to be
found. If the specimens are needed for study after-
wards the slit must not extend to the ninth and tenth
segments, nor must the second segment of the male be
interfered with. But perhaps the best thing would be

* (Jr it niny be fastened clown on its hack to a sheet of cork with
two very hne jjins.

Y

BritisJi Dragonflies.

to keep, where possible, a few specimens intact

especially for purposes of stud}'.

When the abdomen iias been cleaned as thoroughly
as possible with the forceps, it must be dried, and
perhaps stuffed ; no washing with either water or benzine
should be attempted.'^ The author simph- dries the
specimens as rapidh' as possible, leaxing the abdomen
as an empty case, which, contrar\' perhaps to expecta-
tion, is not at all brittle ; it sometimes, however, contracts
a little tran.sversel)'. Some recommend stuffing the
empty abdomen with a roll of paper or cotton-wool
(coloured it may be to resemble the tints of the living
insect), or even with a straw or piece of matchwood. Of
these the roll of wool appears to be the most suitable
packing, but care must be used, or the abdomen may
be unnaturally distended, and that irregularl)'.

After the contents of the abdomen have been extracted,
some Odonatists shake loosel)- inside the skin powder
of a colour similar to that of the Dragonfl}-. Others,
again, paint the inside of the skin of the proper tint,
while some even go the length of painting the outside.
But all of these methods, even the insertion of the
coloured wool or paper, which attempt artificial!}' to
reproduce the colours that have gone, are to be depre-
cated : good coloured drawings would be better than
specimens so tampered with.

Other means of preserving the colours have been
suggested. One due to Professor Ste[jhanelli, and
mentioned in "Science Gossip" (October, 1895, p. 204)

*Mr. F. Milton, however, wnlin<^' in tlie Entoiiioloi^ist, 1887, ]i. 285^
advises dropping into the skin benzine or benzole, and absorbin<^ it and
the dissolved "rease with carbonate of ma"nesia.

Pirpan'iii^ for the Cabinet. 323

by Mr. W. H. Nunney, is to dry the insect under the
recei\er of an air-pump, and when the air is exhausted
to replace it b}' sulphuric ether. Sulphuric ether alone,
it is there stated, injected into the liodies of Dragonflies
will frequently preserve the colours.

Mr. Nunney himself brings forward quite a revo-
lutionar}' method. Instead of drying the insects he
attempts to keep them perpetually moist, and the pre-
paration he finds most successful is that known com-
mercially as Professor Barff's boro-gl\xeride. Of his
method he says : " After making the usual longitudinal
slit in the under-side of the creature's bod\-, I withdraw-
so far as possible the contents, and afterwards fill the
cavit)- with the boro-glyceride of the ordinar\' commercial
strength, without allowing the chemical to in any wa}-
soil the outside of the body. The result is, that whilst
the cohjurs are preserved the bod\' never entirely dries,
and consequently cannot be broken oft' b\- an}' shock
given to the cabinet, drawer, or store-box, this last
being another great advantage of the use of a slightl\-
deliquescent antiseptic. In the case of the smaller
Agrionidce, I inject the boro-glyceride, slightly weakened
by the addition of water, with a very fine h\'podermic
syringe, into the bod)' extremit}-, and, if necessary, run
in the usual bristle for strengthening purposes." Mr.
Nunne}' states that the colours of an ^lischua cjatica
treated b\' this method wxre as bright after two years
as they were when the insect was ali\e. Probably few
entomologists, however, would care to admit insects so
treated into their cabinets, and as regards specimens
needed onh' for stud}- the treatment is unnecessar}',
for the}' ma}' be kept in spirit, which preserves the

Y 2

324

British Dragouflics.

colours almost without change. The reagent formalin,
which is now taking the place of spirit to a great
extent as a preservative, since it has the great merit
of not rendering brittle the insects placed in it, does
not seem so safe in the matter of colour preservation.

Mr. S. L. Mosley, in the E. M. M., 1876, p. 89,
suggested filling the bodies with plaster of Paris till
they were dry. But, apart from the weight of the
substance and the chance of its setting inside the
abdomen, the method does not appear very practicable,
seeing that it is necessary to set the insects as soon as
they have been eviscerated.

It is usually the custom, with those Dragonflies that

1^ r-4#:i^

1 r

/H ^ 1

Fig. 55.— Setting-Board for Dragonflie.s.

(!., Cork, b.. Deal.

are not eviscerated, to pass a grass-stem or bristle from
the thorax into the abdomen to keep them from
breaking at the segmental sutures when the\- are dry.
The insects to be so treated will be the genera
LcHcorrJii}iia and Syiupcinmi, the sub-families Cordiiliimc,
and perhaps Gomphimc, and the famih- Agrioiiidcc.
For the last a shoemaker's bristle is \ery suitable,
or for the very smallest even a horsehair. In no
case must the grass-stem or bristle disarrange
the ninth or tenth segment, or the second of the
male.

Preparing for the Cabinet. 325

Whatever may be the merits or demerits of curved
setting in the case of Lepidoptcra, there can be no doubt
that the Odonata should be set flat. Ahjreover, in order
to enable the legs to be properl}- arranged, the board
must have a wide rectangular groove to contain them.
A form of board, of which Fig. 55 is a cross-section, is
recommended, the parts marked a being made of cork,
and b of deal. The cork on the upper surface ma}'
be dispensed with if entomological pins are not used
for setting. Five boards with the following dimensions
are convenient sizes :

1. A B 1 20mm. DE 27mm. DF lomm.

2. 100 25 8

3. 72 22 6

4-55 15 4

5. 45 12 2

A C and F H will, of course, var\' according to the
height an\- particular collector wishes his insects to
appear up the pin. For moderatel}- low setting A C
should be 25mm.

Since a Dragonfly ma\' be handled without fear of
damaging it, setting presents no great difficulties. The
pin should be thrust vertically through the centre of
the thorax, care being taken that the point does
not pass through a leg and detach it. The Dragonfl}-
having been pinned in the centre of the groo\e, a
small piece of cardboard attached to a pin (^Fig. 56)
must be so placed as to prop up the head in the
proper position. The upper surface of the thorax
having now been brought down level with the surface
of the board, the legs should be placed in the position
indicated in Fig. 57. This is not the natural position,

q26

British Dragonfiies.

but it allows better of their examination. Often the
claws cling" to the board and keep the legs in position,
but sometimes it is necessary to use pins. The wings
next require attention, and some system of arrangement
had better be fixed upon from the first. The author
makes it a rule to have the costal margin of the hind-
wings in a straight line, and the fore-wings at some such

Fig. 56. — Diagram to Illu.strate the Method of Setting a
Dragonfly.

angle with them as that in Fig. 57. They should
first be held in position by the inner pair of
braces. Then the anal angles, which are often ver}-
important for classificatory purposes, and therefore
should be clearly displayed, must be kept horizontal by
means of two strips of thin cardboard or stiff paper, as
in the illustration. This being done, the tips of the wings

Preparing for tJie Cabinet.

\27

should be fixed in position by means of a second pair
of braces. Tracing-paper is a very good material to
use for the braces. The abdomen will general!)- recjuire
one or two braces above and below it to keep it
horizontal, and possibK' a pin on each side to prevent it
from moving to the right or to the left. These braces
must not be so tight as to flatten the body. A label
with date and locality of capture placed with the insect

Fk;. 57. — Dkagonflv Skt and Rf.adv for thk Cakixft.

com.pletes the process of setting. About a fortnight
for the smallest species, and from three weeks to a
month for the larger ones, will be required before they
may safely be removed from the setting-boards. In
transferring an insect care must be taken that the legs
are not knocked off in removing the pins or by the
hooks at the end of the legs clinging to the surface of
the board The appearance of the Dragonfly when set
and ready for the cabinet should be that presented by
Fig. 57.

328 British Dragonflies.

From various circumstances, Dragonflies, like other
insects, often need relaxing before the)- can be set, or
in order to reset them in a different style. This ma\'
be done in the ways that are usual for Lcpidoptcra.
They may be put in a damp zinc relaxing-box, or the}-
may be placed over damp sand, or floated on cork-
over water. In each case the vessel containing them
should be closed, and the whole apparatus kept slightl}'
warm. Setting must not be attempted till the insects
are thoroughly relaxed.

Recently pyroxyllic spirit — purified wood-naphtha —
has come into use for relaxing Neuroptera, &c. The
joints, and all parts of the insect that need relaxing,
are moistened with the spirit by means of a paint-
brush, and after about a quarter of an hour or so the
insect may be set. It will be ready for the cabinet
next day. This method is recommended, but the spirit
should not be used too freely or the legs ma)- be
detached.

Dr. H. G. Knaggs (E. M. M., 1896, p. 10 1) suggests
the following method for relaxing insects : The ap-
paratus required is an accurately stoppered, wide-
mouthed 30Z. bottle and a piece of sheet cork in the
form of a circle with a long pin stuck in its centre as
a handle. Into the bottle ^oz. of sublimated naphthaline
(not ordinary albo-carbon) and about six drops of wood-
naphtha are to be introduced. The insects are pinned on
the stage, and in forty-eight hours relaxing is complete.

A laurel-jar would no doubt give satisfactorx" results
as with the Lcpidoptcra.

When a relaxed Dragonfly is taken off the boards
it is perhaps well to just touch the junction of the

Prepai'ing for the Cabinet. 329

wings and thorax bcloiu with a httle hquid giue, for,
more than in other insects, the wings seem Hable to
spring after a time.

One point which remains to be considered is the
number of specimens of each species to be placed in
the collection. Apart from the size of the cabinet and
the plent)- or scarcity of the \-arious species, liabilit}'
to var\- — a point which has been alread}' discussed
in connection with the \arious species — should be a
great determining factor. Possibl\- also most collectors
will like to have a good series of such as keep their
colours well, and .so make a good show in the cabinet.

A collection of Dragonflies admits of ver)- easy
labelling, and one of the comparatively large spaces
on each side of the abdomen below the hind-wings
seems marked out for the position of a neat label
bearing particulars of local it}' and date of ca[Jture ;
but this should onl\- supplement a fuller account in
the collector's note-book in connection with all the less
common species or more striking varieties.

ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.

Page 44. — 0\s'in<^ to the findinij of several of the Agrionine nymphs durinj.
1899, that part of tlie Table 011 j^age 44 may be extended a;
follows :
B. All ajijiendages lamellar.

I. Lamellse rounded at tip.

a. Lamellae very long, blotched ; antennae

long and slender ; mask very slender spoiisa.

b. Lamellae spotted and lianded ; mask

and antennre of the Agrionine type . . iiaias.
II. Lamellae pointed at ti]i.

a. Lamellae coloured.

1. Lamellce rather short and
broad, mottled with brown ;
body comparativelv short and

stout i/vniphuhi.

2. Lamella? long, narrow, spotted ;
eyes rather large ; sides of
abdomen s])iny peiiiiipcs.

b. Lamella; hyaline except the trachea,
and sometimes one (or two) small
transverse streaks.

1. Lamellae with one margin only

hairy piiiiiilio.

2. Lamellae with both margins
hairy or spiny.

i. .Several segments of
abdomen marked dorsally
with four dark, curved,
longitudinal lines . . . . i-h'gaiis.

ii. Abdomen with a darker
longitudinal streak,

thickest at the base of
the segments on each side
of medic-dorsal paler line piiclla.

Addenda ct Corrigenda. 331

iii. Pale niiii-doisal line,
boundeil by darker one,
still darker at sutures ;
two spots on each seg-
ment; lamellse small .. me re 11 rial t.
iv. Dorsal surface of abdomen
with a large central dark
patch on each segment
(except 10), containing a
pale, pear-shaped or
triangular one, and this
last a central pale streak ;
lamellce rather broad,
pointed, a thin dark line
across the middle . . . . cyatliii^iruni.
Page 74.— For description of nymph of S. stkiolatum, see page 90, and

explanatory note on page 91.
Page 75. — S. STRIOLATUM. Dorset : Glanvilles Wootlon (C. W. Dale) :
entrance to Poole Harbour (\V. J. L.). Berkshire: Wellington
College (J. E. Tarbat). Surrey : Chertsey (E. Vincent) ; Woking
(W. D. Drury).
Page 86.— S. FLAVEOLUM has again (1899) occurred in some numbers on
Ockham Common, in Surrey. As in 1898 no females weie noticed,
and we must conclude that there has been another migration.
Mr. B. Harwood, however, captured a female at S. Osyth,
Essex, on August 21.
Page 99. — S. SCOTlCUil. Surrey : Chobham Common and Chertsey

(E. \'incent).
Page loO. — L. DEPRESSA. Devonshire : Near Plymouth (G. C. Bignelli.

Dorset: Glanvilles Wootton (C. W. Dale).
Page 117.— L. guADRiMACULATA. Argyllshire: (J. Mackay). Hebrides:

Stomoway (H. S. Fremlin).
Page 121. — L. FiLVA. Dorset: One at Wootton W^ood, May 24,
1825, by J. C. Dale. (History of Glanvilles Wootton, by C. \\'.
Dale.)
Page 125.— O, CERULESCENS. Devonshire : Near Plymouth (G. C.
Bignell). Hampshire : Hengistburv Head, near Christchurch, one
(W. J. L.).
Page 129.— O. CANCELLATUM. Surrey: Chobham Common (E. Vmcent).
Page I3(j.— S. ilETALLlCA. Inverness-shire : Seen for two months from
June 15, 1899, in Strathglass and Glen Affrick, the female being
very scarce. (J. J. F. X. King, E. M. M., 1899, p. 206.)
Page 140.— S. ARCTiCA. Inveiness-shire : Taken in Strathglass, in June,
1899, and in Glen AflVick early in August, in the latter locality
at an altitude of 1400ft. (J. j. E. X. King, E. M. M., 1899,
p. 206.)

BritisJi Dragon flics.

Page 146. — C. A^NEA. Hampshire : New Forest (W. J. Ashdown).
Page 162. — C. ANNULATrs. Devonshire : Near Plymouth (G. C. Bignell).

Dorset: Glanvilles Woottoii (C. W. Dale).
Page 170. — A. IMPERATOR. Dorset: One on Roundchimneys Pond,

July 24, 1864 (C. AV. Dale, History of Glanvilles Wootton).
Page 183. — yE. MIXTA. Dorset : Stockhill, one, October, 1807, J. C.

Dale (C. W. Dale, History of Glanvilles Wootton).
Page 189. — iE. C.KRULEA. Inverness-shire : Observed 1899 in widely

separated districts in Strathglass and Glen Aflrick, at altitudes

from 400ft. to 1200ft. Last taken, a male, on August 12.

(J. J. F. X. King, E. M. M., 1899, p. 206.)
Page. 195. — ^. JUNCEA. Somersetshire : 'E.x\\\oo-[ {y^ . '^.l^.). Hebrides:

Stornoway (H. S. Fremlin). Dorset : Brook Furlong, August 13,

1822, by Curtis (C. W. Dale, History of Glanvilles Wootton).
Page 202. — 2^. CVANEA. Devonshire : Near Plymouth (G. C. Bignell).

Dorset: Glanvilles Wootton (C. W. Dale).
Page 20S. — IE. GRANDIS. Surrey: Near Chobham (\V. H. Aston).
Page 219.— C. VIRGO. Dez'onshire : Near Plymouth (G. C. Bignell).

Dorset : Glanvilles Wootton (C. W. Dale).
Page 227. — C. SPLENDENS. Dorset : Glanvilles Wootton (C. W. Dale).
Page 237. — L. SPONSA. Surrey : Chobham Common (E. Vincent).
Page 237. — Lestes FORCIPULA (.^ = L. sponsa). Dorset : Glanvilles

W^ootton (C. W. Dale).
Page 252. — E. NAIAS. Surrey: Chobham Common (K. Vincent).
Page 260. — P. NYMPHULA. Hebrides: Stornoway (H. S. Fremlin).
Page 275. — I. ELKGANS. Hebrides : Stornoway (H. S. Fremlin).
Page 305. — E. CYATHIGERUM. Hebrides : Stornoway (H. S. Fremlin).

In E. M. M., 1899, p. 207, Mr. R. McLachlan gives an interesting

account of his observation of the submergence of the female.
Page 310. — In Mr. C. W. Dale's History of Glanvilles Wootton, in

Dorset, L. VIRIDIS is said to be occasionally common. Tlii>

must, of course, be intended for some other species.

Page 22, line 13, insert comma after " may be."

Page 27, line 15, for "possibly"' read "possible."

Page 36, line 3, for "hooks" read "joints."

Page 37, for " CoRDULIID/H," in inscription to Fig. 15, read

" Corduliin.e."

Page 38, for "Fig. 43" read "Fig. 44."

Page 44, line 13, for "six-jointed" read "obscurely seven-jointed."

Page 48, for "Figs. 23 and 24" read "Figs. 22 and 23."

Page 58, lines 22 and 36 1

-rj r ,• , for " l'lat\chnemis read " Platvcncmis.

Page 02, Ime 3' I '

Page 61, line 30, for " Plate xxvi." reatl " Plate xxvii."

I'age 61, line 37, insert comma after " circlet."

Addenda ct Corrigenda. 333

Page 108, line 10, insert comma after •■ macula.''

Page 124, line 5, insert "in" after "same as."

Page 131), line 7, for "/oiivr"' read "//■/>/>( v."

Page 231, line 25, for " seitenstachel " read " Seitenstacliel."

Page 231, line 26, for " kiemen " read " Kiemen."'

Page 23S, line 17, for " Reisem " read " Reisen."

Page 273, line 25, between " heaii " and "thorax"' insert "and."'

Page 276, line 10, insert comma after " New Forest."'

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(1 829-30 ).
.UiLadi. Cat. P.rit. Xcur. — R. AIcLachlan, "A Catalogue of British

Xeuroptera " (Entomological S()ciet\ of London, 1870).
Mull. Faun. Ins. Fridr. — O. F. ^liillei', " P'auna Insectorum Fridrichs-

dalina " (17O4).
Mull. .Vo-r. Alt. Acad. Lcop. -Carol. —(). F. Miiller, " Xova Acta I'hysico-

medica, Academia; Cassareae Leopoldino — Carolina; Natura;

Cuiiosorum Exhibentia Ephemerides."
Pall. Rciscn. — P. S. Pallas, " Rei.-en durch \er5chiedene Pr jvinzen des

Riissischen Reiches in dem Jahren, 1708-74" (i 77 1-7'').
Pairz. Ins. Deiitschl. — G. W. F. Panzer, " P'aLUKe Insectorum Germanic

initia, oder Deutschlands Insekten "' ( i7i>2-i8io).
Panz. Sella- f. Icon. — G. AV. F. Panzer, " Scha?flers Iconum Insectorum

circa Ratisbonam indigenorum enumeratio .Systematica" (1804).
J^'roc. Bost. Soc. A'. H. — " Proceedings of the Boston .Society of Natural

History."
Rami). Hist. A'at. Jus. X'h'r. — J. P. Ranibur, "Histoire Naturelle des

Insectes X'evropteres " (1842).
Refz. Gen. Spec. Jns. — A. J. Retzius, - Caroli de Geer (ienera et .Species

Insectorum" (1783).
Scop. Ent. Cam. — J. A. Scopoli. " Entomologia Carniolica " ( 1 703).

336 British Dragonflies.

Scop. Ann. Hist. Nat. — J. A. Scopoli, "Annus Historico Naturalis "

(1769-72).
Selvs, Cat. Lep., &^c., Belg. — Baron E. de Selys-Longchamps, " Catalogue

des Lepidopteres ou Papillons de la Belgique, precede du Tableau

des Libellulidees de ce Pays" (1837).
Sclys, Man. Lib. Eur. — Baron E. de Selys-Longchamps, "Mono-
graphic des Libellulidees d' Europe " (1840).
Selys, J/on. G?/.— Baron E. de Selys-Longchamps, " Monographic

des Calopterygines " (1854).
Se/ys, J/on. Goni.— Baron E. de Selys-Longchamps, " jMonographie

des Gomphines "' (1858).
St'/ys, Rt'v. Odon. — Baron E. de Selys-Longchamps, " Revue des

Odonates, ou Libellules d'Europe" (1850).
Selys, Rc'7'. Zool. — Baron E. de Selys-Longchamps, " Re\ue Zoologique "

(1845)-
Selvs, Syn. Cal. — Baron E. de Selys-Longchamps, " Synopsis des

Calopterygines" (1853).
Shaw, Gen. Zool. — Shaw, "General Zoology" (1806).
Steph. Illustr. Brit. Ent. Mand. — J. F. Stephens, " Illustrations of

British Entomology" (1835-37).
Strom, Nye Sanil. af K. Danske Vul. Selsk. Skriv. — PL Strom, "Nye

Samling af det Kongelige Danske Videnskabers Selskabs Skrivter "

(1783)-
Sulz. GcseJi. Ins. — J. H. Sulzer, " Abgekiirzte Geschichte der Insekten,

nach dem Linneischen System" (1776).
Sulz. Kennz. d. Ins. — J. H. Sulzer, "Die Kennzeichcu der Insekten"

(1761).
Stett. Ent. Zeit. — " Stettiner entomologische Zeitung."
Vill. Lin)i. Ent. — C. J. de Villers, " Caroli Linnsei Entomologia" (1789).
Wiedem. Zool. Mag. — Wiedemann's " Zoologisches Magazin " (1817-23).
Zett. Ins. Lap. — J. W. Zetterstedt, " Insecta Lapponica descripta" (1840).

INDEX.

Specific synonyms may be veco'
without any

A. I

Abdomen, 54
Atari, ', 8

on A. meridiouale, 74
on ^. striolatiiin, 74
Accessory membrane, 5 1
Addenda, 330
Adult females resembling males,

72, 102, 124, 166
ieitea, 131, 140, 197
ccreiis, 298

y-E. cyanea and yE. juiicea, dis-
tinction between, 193
yE. juncea and JE. cyanea, dis-
tinction between, 193
-E. juncea and ^E. mixta, dis-
tinction between, 179
^E. mixta and ^. juncea, dis-
tinction between, 179
yEschna, 32, 177
boreal is, 184

ccerulea, 139, 140, 183, 331
charpentieri, g
coluherculus, 177, 184
cyanea, 21, 47, 191, 192, 194,

196, 207, 323, 332
grandis, 15, 188, 194, 203, 332
irene, 1 8G
isosceles, 209
juncea, 15,47, 178, 188, 189,

302, 112
mixta, 177, 331

;nised by the small initial letter
indentation.

^Esclina — continia if.
squamata, 184
nymph, 180, 18 1
^Eschna and Bi achvtron, dis-
tinction between, 173, 17^
^EschnidcE, 30, 51
^Eschnina, 30, 40, 48
affinis, \"
aglae, 271
Agrion, 235, 277

lunulatum, 298

mercurialc, 13, 243, 286, 290

platypoda, 277

puella, 22 (foot-note), 243, 282,

291, 293, 294, 297, 305
puhhelluin, 243, 277, 286,
293. 297
Agrionidcs, 30, 35, 48, 51, 237, 251,

256, 323, 324
AgrioniiuT, 30, 31, 32, 33, 49, 289,

321
Alderflies, 28
alpestris, 137
alpina, 177
amazon, 253
Anagrus incarnatus, 17
Anal appendages, 54

segment, 54
analis, 244
Analytical tables of imagines, 55

nymphs, 40, 330
Annx imperator, 3, 5, 7, 17, 4O)
163, 213, 331

338

BritisJi Dragonflies.

aitceps, 214

ancilla, 221

anguis, 196

angustipennis, 88

Anisopterides, 24, 30, 46, 51, 54,

308, 316
Anisopterid wing, 53
annulare, 283
annulatus, 157
Ante-clypeus, 48
Ante-cubital nervures, 51
Antennae of Dragonflies, 47
Anterior, as applied to the parts of

an insect, 55
Apical, as applied to the parts of

an insect, 55
Aquaria for nymphs, 316
arctica, 137
Arculus, 53

lower sector of, 53
upper sector of, 53
Asihis, 7
aspis, 1 7 1

Attachment per colliim, 1 1
aurantiaca, 266
aurantiacitiii, 82
aurea, 82
aziirea, 164

B.

barbara, 31 i

Basal, as aj^plied to the parts of an
insect, 55

basale, 87

Benzine for killing, 319

biguttata, 122

bimaculata, 1 1')

Bird-lice, 28

Birds and Dragonflies, ()

boltonii, 157

borealis, 183

Boro-glyceride and colour preserva-
tion, 323

Brachytron and .Eschim, distinc-
tion between, 173, 175

Brachytron hafnicnsc, 171

Brachytron — continued .

pratense, 170
Brauer's classification of insects, 28
Breathing of Dragonflies, 54

nymphs, 33
Breeding the nymph, 313
briinnea, 298

Butterfly captured by Dragonfly,
20 1

C.

Caddis-flies, 28
ccerulea, 183
ccerulescens, 1 2 2
Calopterygincf, 30, 34, 53
Calopteryx, 32, 213, 230

anceps, 217

splendens, 21 (foot-note), 215,
218, 220, 22r, 332

7'esta, 2 1 7

T'rgo, 4, 213, 221, 222, 223,

224, 22fa, 332

Calopteryx splendens and C. virgo,
distinction between, 223

cancellita, 93

cancellatiDn, 126

Cannibalism, 7

in nymphs, 316

Carbonate of magnesia and colour
preservation, 322 (foot-
note)

Carr3ang Dragonflies home, 320

Cast-skins of nymphs. 3 1 7

" Casual Immigrants," 308, 310

caucasica, 190

Cause of loss of colour, 321

Centre of an insect, 55

Changes of skin, 20

Chanras graniinis, pre\-ed on by
Dragonfl)-. 208

charpentieri, 298

chluridion, 244, 253

Chloroform for killing, 320

chrysophthahniis, 210

Chrysopidcv, 28

Classification of Dragonflies, 2O

Index.

339

cognata, 266
colchicus, 214
Collecting and sport, 5
Colour-preservation, 3, 320, 321,

322
colubcrciiliis, 177

Common names of Dragontlies, i, 2
Compound eves of Dragonllics, 4;;
compressa, 148
Condition, immature. 24
Conioptervgidcc, 28
conspicirata, 119
Cordiilegasfer, 140 ( foot-note), 157

nnnidatus, 150. 157, 331

dresdensis, 0

jai'/, I bo
Cordulegasteriiicv, 30, 48
Corditlia, 32, 140

(Tiiea, 136, 140, 33 1
Coniuliiuu' 30, 40, 324
Corrigenda, 330
Corrodentia, 28
Costa, 51
Cubital point, 52
ctirtisii, 147
Curved setting, 325
cyaiwa, 196

Cyanide for killing, 3K)
cyathigcriim, 277, 297

D.

Date of appearance :
u-E. car idea, 187
yE. cyanea, 201
^^. grandis, 207
^^. 2^(9 jr(?/£'.f, 213
^. juncea, 194
^^. mixta, 182
^. imperator, 169
^. merciiriale, 295
A.piielta, 289
^ . pulchellu in, 281
i9. pratense, 175
C ccnea, 146
C. anmdatiis, 162

Date of appearance — continued.

C. splendens, 226

C. virgo, 219

^. 7taias, 251

(?. vtdgatissimiis, 15O

/. i'!c'ga?js, 27^

/. piimitio, 26()

Z. dtprcssa, 104

Z. drvas, 232

Z. didua, 67

/L. fuh'a, 12 1

Z. sponsa, 237

L. qiiadriinacitlata, 1 14

(?. CiTntlcscciis, 125

(9. canCiUatuDi, 129

C. curtisii, 1 50

Z*. nvntpliiila, 260

Z. pciinipcs, 242

Z. tciieUtim, 2O4

.S'. arciica, 139

^. flavcoliim, 85

»S'. fonscoloinhii, 79

J?. mctaUica, 136

5. sangniiiriiiu, 92

.S. scoticuiii, 98

J>. striolatitin, 74
deprcssa, 100

" Devil's Darning Needles," i
Difference between .S". striolatiini

and .s". Tidgatmu, 73
Difficulties of odonatists, 3

capturing Dragonfiies, 319
Dissecting, 321
Distal, as applied to the parts of

an insect, 55
Distinction between ^dL. juncca and
.-£. cvaiiea, 193
v^. mixta and ^Z'. jimcea, 1 79
yEschiia and Brachvtron, 173,

175
C. splendens and C virgo, 223
Z. dry as and Z. sponsa, 231
Distribution of:

vZ'. cirndea, 189, 331
^Z'. evanea. 202, 332
^Z. grandis, 208, 332

Z 2

340

British Dragonflies.

Distribution of — continued.
.E. isosceles, 213
uE.jiincea, 195, 332
^E. mixta, 183, 331
A. imperator, 170, 331
A. incrciiriale, 297
A. piiclia, 289

A. pulchcllunt, 281

B. pratense, 1 76
C cEuea, 146, 331

C annulatits, 162, 331

C. splendens, 227, 332
<r. w>^<7, 219, 332

^. cvathigenim, 305, 332

>5. «rt/flj-, 252, 332

G. 7'nlgatissimiis, 156

/. clegans, 275, 332

/. ptimilio, 269

Z. depressa, 106, 331

Z. dry as, 232

Z. diibia, 68

L. fitlva, 121, 331

Z. quadrimaculaia, 1 17, 331

Z. sponsa, 237, 332

<9. ccrrulescens, 125, 331

(9. cancellatum, 129, 331

O. ciirtisii, 150

/". nymphula, 260, 332

P. penuipes, 243

/*. tend I II in, 265

J?, arctica, 140, 331

S. Jlaveolttm, 86, 331

.S. ntetallica, 136, 331

^. sangiiineum, 93

^. scoiienm, 99, 331

^. striolatum, 75, 331
donovanni, 122
Diagonflies, a neglected group, 2

and sunshine, 3

as food, 6

carrying home, 320

harmless insects, 5

in the evening, 3

ovipositing, 1 1

returning to the same spot^ 75,
10;, 116

Dragonflies, stingless, 2
Dragonfly capturing butterfly, 201
Drosera rotiindifolia, Dragonflies

caught by, 8, 305
dry as, 228

Dr^'ing Dragonflies, 327
dnJjia, 63, 123
Duration of nymph state, 19

Early Dragonflies, 104, 114, 176,

260
Earlv life-history of .S'. striolatiuii,

18
Early stages o{ S. flaveoliim, 84

^. fonscolombii, 79
Ecdvsis, 20
Egg':

yE. cyanea, 199

^. grandis, 206

yE.juncea, 193

yE. mixta, 180

A. imperator, 166

C. annidatiis, 160

C. splendens, 224

C. virgo, 218

E. cyathigerum, 302

L. depressa, 102

Z. quadrimaciilata, no

0. eceriilescens, 125

Z". nvmphula, 256

/". tenellum, 264

S. Jlaveolum, 85

.v. metalliea, 133

.S'. sangnineiiin, 90

.S'. scoticum, 97

^S". striolatum, 73
Eggs of Dragonflies, difficult to get
living, 313

parasites in, 17
elegans, 266, 271
Eleventh segment, 54
Ernhiida;, 28
Emergence of imago, 20

.Z". cyanea, 201

Index

341

Emergence of imago — continued .

A. piicUa, 22, 288

L. quad rimacii lata, 20, 1 12

P. nymphula, 22, 258

E. naias. 253, 26f)
Enallagmn, 235, 207

tvathigtrmii, 8, [3, kj, 243, 281,
284, 239, 294, 297, 332
Enemies of Dragonflies, (>
Ephemeridcr, 9, 27, 28, 29
Equisetiim, 193

E>yth?oiiiiiia naias, 224, 244, 332
eiythroneiira, 77
Evening flight of Diagonflio, 170,

195, 208
Eviscerating, 320, 321
Expanse of wings, how nieasiued,

64 (foot-note)
ezoiiatiiin, 27 I

Feigning death, 25 1

Female imago :

jE. ccerulea, 186
yE. isosceles, 2 1 1
yE. grandis, 205
^. cyanea, 198
^E. juncea, 192
AL. mixta, 179
A. imperator, 166
A. tnerciiriale, 293
A. piiella, 285

A. pulchclliiin, 280

B. pratciisc, 172
6". csiiea, 143

C annulatiis, 15')

C. virgo, 216

C splendens, 222
^. cyathigenim, 300
^. naias, 245
(7. Tulgatissiiniis. 153
/. elegans, 273
y. piimilio, 268
Z. depressa, loi
Z. d/yas, 230

Female imago — coiitiiuied.

L. diihia, 65

L. fulva, 120

Z. quadrimaciilata, 109

Z. sponsa, 234

(9. civriilesceiis, 124

(9. canciilatum, 128

(?. ciiiiisii, I tO

/'. iivinphula, 254

/'. pemiipts, 240

/■*. teneiluin, 263

.S'. arctica, 139

S. JiaveoliDH, 83

^'. fonscolotnbii, 79

^S". metallica, 133

6". sanguineum, 89

^. scoticum, 95

^. striolatiim, 72
Fertilization of ova, 1 1
f estiva, 214

Fish-globes for nymphs, 316
Fixing wings of relaxed Dragonflies,

328
Flat-setting, 325
Jlaveola, 69, 77, 87. 1)4
jlaveolata, 82, 94
flaveolum, 81
Jlavesceus, 82, 312
flavipennis, 203
flavipes, 310
Jiavomaciilata, 312
Flying backwards, 54
fonscolombii, ", 291
fonscolombis, 77
Food of nymphs, 314, 316
fonipata, 152, 157, 308
forcipida, 228, 229, 233, 332
Fore, as applied to the parts of an

insect, 55
Formalin, 31 7
formosiis, 1O4
Fossil Dragonflies, g
Freshwater shrimp, 316
fridrichsdah'iisis, 1 1 9
Frons, 48
frititicnti, 127

342

British Dragonflies.

fugax, 1 1 4
fulva, I iq
fuh'ipes, 253
furcatiim, 282

G.

Gauiiiiarits flinHatilis, 316

Gense, 48

Goviphince, 30, 46, 48, 324

Goniphus flavipes, 310

7iulgatissiniiis, 7, 151, 310
nymph burrowing in mud
315 (foot-note)

grand is, 157, 106. 203. 210

Gula, 48

H.

Habits :

u-E. canih'a, 187

yE. cyanea, 201

^. grandis, 207

yE. juncea, 194

^^. mixta, 182

^. imperator, i6q

^. mercuriale, 296

A. piiella, 289

^. pulchelliiiii, 281

^. pratense, 176

C cenea, 146

C nnnidaUis, 162

C. splendcns, 226

C virgo, 219

^. cyathigeruin, 305

^. naias, 251

(?. z'tilgatissiinus, 156

/. elegans, 275

Z. depivssa, 105

Z. dubia, 68

Z. quad rimacn lata, 1 14

Z. sponsa, 237

(9. cceriilesccns, 125

O. canccUatuni, 129

Z". nympJmla, 260

/". pennipes, 243

Z". tenellum, 264

5. arctica, 139

Habits — continued.

S. flaveolum, 85

^. fonscolomhii, 79

.S. metallica, 136

.S. sangiiinciiiii, 92

6". scoticiini, 98

iS'. striolatuni, 74
hemorrhoidal is, 214
hafniensc, 1 70
Hairs on legs, use of, 49
hasttilatum, 271, 297
Haunts of Dragonflies, 3, 8
Heme ?-obi idee, 28
Hind, as applied to the parts of an

insect, 55
" Horse-stingers," i
Hunting Dragonflies, 3
Hybernating Dragonfly, 25
Hybrid, a possible, 192
Hydra'iia nictitans preyed on by

Dragonfly, 208
Hypcricion elodcs, 85

I.

Imagines, analytical tables of, 55

months when on the wing, 62
Imago, the, 45
Immature colouring :

^Z\ ccrrulca, 186

^Z". cyanea, 199

^E. jitncca, 192

A. puella, 286

^. pulchelliun, 280

C ^«(^a, 143

6". splendens, 223

C virgo, 216

Z. cvathigcruui, 300

Z. naias, 245

Z elegans, 273

Z. deprcssa, loi

Z. dryas, 231

/,. dubia, 6fc)

L. fiilva, 120

Z. qtiadritriaciilata, 109

Z. sponsa, 235

Index.

343

Immature colourini; — con/ 1 nurd.

O. cicniiLSiins. 124

O. canceUatiim, 1 28

P. nvmphula, 234

P. tcndhim, 2O3

^S'. flavcoluin, 84

S. fonscolotnbii, 71-)

S. sangiiineuin, 8y

S. scoiiaim, 96

»S'. striolatiim, 72
Immature condiiion, 24
iinpcrator, I f)3
Imperfect metamorphosis, 3 1
Insects, Brauer's classification of, 28

Packard's classification of, 29
intcrriiptum, 2"

Ischnura cicgans, 8, 19. 251, 266,
269, 271, 332

puniilio, 266, 272

piiniilio var. aurantiaca, 268
isocclcs, 201)
isosct'/i's, 209

J.

fu):cca, 189. 197

Ki]lin<;, 319
"Kingfishers," 221
" King George,"" 4

L.

Labelling specimens. 329

Labium, 48

Labrum, 48

Lacewings, 28

lactciun, 238

Late emergence of :

E. cyathigcrum, i<)

/. elegans, 19
Legs of Dragonfly, use of, 50
Lestes, 228, 308

barbara, 3 1 1

Lestes — contin tied.

difficulty in discriminating the

species, 311
drvas, 228, 235
sponsa, 22q, 231, 232, 332
virens, 3 1 1
Tiridis, 310, 332
Lestes drvas and L. sponsa, dis-
tinction between, 231
Leiuorrhinia, 63, 324
dubia, 63, 309
pectoralis, 308
Libellula, 32, 100

depressa. 40, 1 00, 1 10, 112,

121, 129, 33'
fulva, no 119, 331
qiiadrimaeiilata, 7, 9, 103, 107,

121, 259, 289, 331
qiiadriuiacnlata var. prcB-
niibila, no, 117
Libelliilidie 30, T,T„ 35 (foot-note),

51

Libelliilincz, 24, 30, 40
Lindenia foreipata, 309
Imeolata, 127
Lingua, 49
Localities :

^£. ecerulea, 189, 331

^£. cyanea, 202, 332

^:E. grandis, 208, 332

^.£. isosceles, 213

.£. juncea, 195, 332

^£. mixta, 183, 332

-•i. unperator, 170,331

^r/. niercuriale, 297

-J. pueila, 289

.J. pulcliclliim, 281

-A', pratense, 1 76

(^^. cenea, 147, 331

t". anniilatiis, 162, 331

6". s pi end ens, 227, 332

C. TvV-ir", 219, 332

^. eyathigentin, 305, 332

is. naias, 252, 332

6". 7'iclgatissimi(s, 156

/. t'/.;^vz;/j-, 27s, 332

344

British Dragonflies.

Localities — continued.

I. putniho, 269

L. depressa, 106, 331

Z. dry as, 232

L. diibia, 68

L. fidva, 121, 331

L. quadrimaculata, 117, ZZ^

L. sponsa, 237, 332

O. ccsrulescens, 126, 331

O. canct'llatum, 130, 331

O. ciii-tisii, I 50

P. nympliula, 260, 332

P. pennipes, 243

P. ten el hem, 265

S. arctica, 140, 331

S. Jiaveohim, 86, 331

S.fonscolombii, 80

.S". fnetallica, 136, 331

.S'. sanguineum, 93

.S. scoticutn, 89, 331

6'. strtolatum, 75, 331
Longitudinal, as applied to the

parts of an insect, 55
Loss of colour, cause of, 321
Lower sector of arculus, 53

triangle, 53
lua'fugus, 283
ludovLciana, 214, 221
lunulata, 157
liiniilatuiii, 277

M.

Tnacrocephala, 69
niacidata, 107
macnlatissima, 196
Male imago :

^is. ccsrulea, 185

^". cyanea, 197

^. grandis, 204

^^. isosceles, 210

^^. juncea, 191

^. fnixta, 178

^. imperator, 165

^. meiruriale, 292

A. piiella, 284

Male imago — continued.

A. pulchellum, 278

^. pratense, 1 7 1

C. (Enea, 142

l". anniilatus, 158

C. s pi end ens, 222

C. 77>^o-tf, 215

ii. cyathigerum, 299

^. naias, 244

6^. vulgatissinius, 152

/. elegans, 272

/. pumilio, 267

Z. depressa, loi

Z. d/yas, 230

Z. dubia, 64

Z. ftilva, 119

Z. quad rimacu lata, lOi

Z. sponsa, 233

<?. ccsrulescens, 123

O. cancellafuin, 127

(9. curtisii, 149

Z". nyinphula, 253

Z". pennipes, 239

Z*. tenelluni, 262

^. arctica, 138

»?. Jiaveolum, 82

^S". fonscolombii, 77

^. metallica, 132

iS". sanguineum, 88

^. scoticum, 94

^. striolatum, 71
Alallophaga, 28, 29
Mandibles, 49
" Mask," 35
Maxillre, 49
Mayflies, 27
Mecaptcra, 29
Median nervure, 51

sector, 53
melanostigma, 63
Mentum, 48
niercuriale, 290
meridionalc, 301)
Meso-notum, 49
Meso- thorax, 49
metallicn, i ^o

Index.

345

Meta-notum, 49

Meta-thorax, 49
Migration, 9

^H,. grandis., 208

./;'. mixta, 182

C. splcndciis, 227

L. dcpirs^a. 105

-L. qiiadriinacitlatiu 115

S. flaveoluiii, 80

S. fonscoloijibii\ 80

^. san^'nincinii , 92
Millimetre, as unit of length, 17

(foot-note)
iiiinitini, 252
mixta, 177
^Months when imagines are on the

wing, 62
" Alosquito Hawks," 2 (foot-note)
Myiiiaridcr, 1 7
Alvriapod, 31O

N.

j/aias, 244
Nasus, 48

Net for capturing njniphs, 315
Neiiroptera, i, 9, 26, 27, 28, 29,
328

diagnosis of, 27
Neitroptcra-ampliihiotica, 28

-planipeniiia. 28
«/;§•;-«, 94
nigriciila, 94
nigripes, 69, 88
nitens, 148
nit id Ilia, 238
nobilis, 203
Nodal sector, 53
Node, 53

Note-making, 329
Number of Dragonflies, 10

in British Isles, 10

European, 10

specimens of each species in
cabinet, 329

Nymph, 31

yE. cyanca, 199

^. grandis, 206

^. isosceles, 211

yE.juncea, 194

yE. mixta, 180

A. impcraior, 167

-^/. mi'rciirialc, 29 ^

A. piiiila, 286

^. pnlchdluni. 281

i?. prattiisi', I 73

('. ir/wa, 144

t'. an/iiiiatus, i(jO

t'. spit'ndens, 224

r. viigo, 218

is. cyathigertiiii, 303

^. naias, 247

<'/'. Tulgatissimiis. 154

/. eic'ga/is. 274

Z. dtp/c'ssa, 102

Z. diyas, 231

Z. di/bia, 66

Z. (jitadrimaciilata. 1 10

Z. .9/XWJ7?, 235

(9. canccllatKin, 128

/". nymphula, 2^6

/'. pennipcs, 241

J^'. mt'tallica. 134

.S'. scoticimi, 97

.V. strioiatuiii, 18, 74, 90 (vide
91, foot-note)
nymplia, 228, 229, 233
Nymphs, 3

analytical table of, 40, 330

and fish, 5

becoming tame, 317

breathing of, 33

feigning death, 315

general description of, 38

means of progression in, 33

methods of progression, 32

postage of, 315 (foot-note)

preparing for their emergence,

317
receptacles for, 3 1 5
search for, 314

346

British Dragonfiies.

Nymphs — continued.

skins, preparation of, 317

state, duration of, 19

storage of preserved speci-
mens, 318

synonymic tables of, 40

travelling on dry land before
disclosing imago, 21 (foot-
note)
iiympltula, 252

O.

Occipital region, 48

ocellata, 190

ocelli, 46

Odonata, I, 28, 29, 30, 313

diagnosis of, 29
olvinpia, 123
opalina, 123
Original description :

^. ccEridea, 184

vS. cyanea, 197

^. grandis, 204

^. isosceles, 210

^. juncea, 190

^■E. mixta, 177

A. imperator, 164

A. niercurialc, 291

A. puella, 283

A. piilcliclliim, 277

B. pratc/isc, 171

C. avica, 141

6". annulatus, 157

6". splcndciis, 221

t'. virgo, 214

i?. cyatliigeruni, 298

^\ naias, 244

6". vulgatissiiniis, 152

/. e/egans, 271

/. pii/iii/io, 266

Z. diprcssa, 100

Z. d/yas, 229

Z. dnbia, 63

Z. fulva, 119

Z). quad rimnculata, 107

Z. spousa, 233

Original description — contuun'd.

O. cccrulesccns, 123

O. canccllatuin, 127

O. curtisii, 148

Z". nymphula, 253

Z*. pennipes, 239

Z. tcncllitiii, 262

aS. arctica, 137

tS'. flaveoluin, 82

S. fonscoloinbii, 77

;S'. metallica, 131

J>. sangiiinciiDi, 88

^. scoticinii, 94

6'. striolatiun, 69

;5'. vulgatnni, 71
Orthetnini arni/csccns, 12 1, 122,

156, 331
canccllatuni, 5, 24, 121, 126,

331

Orthoptcra, 9

should Dragonfiies be placed
in the order ? 26
Osmilidcc, 28
Ova of Dragonfiies, 15
Overcrowding nymphs, 316
Ovipositing in mud, 256, 294
Oviposition in captivity, 313
Oviposition :

.^. grandis, 15, 205

yE. jiincca, 15, 193

Agrian, 12

j4. mcrcnrialc, 13, 294

^. iuipcrator, 1 60

f. annulatus, 160

Z'. cyathigenini, 13, 301, 332

Z,-,v/,'., 13

Z. j/(wjrt, 235

Z. dcpressa, 102

Z. quadriniaciilata, I 10

Z'. nymphula, 13, 255

Z. pcnnipcs, 14

S. flaveoluin, 84

iS". scoticum, 96

^. striolatum, 12, 73
Ovipositor, 54
Oxygastra ri/rtisii, 147, 312

Index.

347

Packard's classification of insects, 29
pallidistii^nia, 94, 96
Panorpata, 28
Panorpidce, 28, 29
Pantala Jinvescens, 312
Parasites in Dragonflies' eggs, 17
partlienias, 221
pectoralis, 308
pennipL's, 238
Perl idee. 27, 28
//<Y(?, 190
/■/cA'.''/, 233

Pigment undeveloped in wings, 2 1 7
Pill-boxing, 3, 8
pilosa, 1 7 1
Plaster of Paris and colour

preservation, 324
Platvcncinis pcuuipes, 14, 238,277,

296
platvpoda, 238
Platyptcra, 29
Phcoptcra, 28
Plcchiptcra, 29

Postage of nymphs, 315 (foot-note)

Post-clypeus, 48

Post-costa, 51

Posterior, as applied to the j'jarts
of an insect, 55

Potaiitoi^cton, 251, 255

Platvcitiinis pcn/iipcs, 238

primipes, \ar. hiliiiiata, 240
pc/iuipes, var. lacfea, 241

pricnitbiia, 107

pratense, 170

Preparation of nymph skins, 3 1 7

Preparing for the cabinet, 319
emergence of nymphs, 317

Preserving colours, 320, 321

Principal sector, 53

Progression, means of, in nymphs,

33
Pro-notum, 49
propinqita. 190
Pro-sternum, 49

agent,
13- 14-

Protective coloration, 32

resemblance, 125, 219, 226,

258, 315
Prothorax, 49
Pseiido-Netiroptcra, 27
PsocidcE, 27, 28
Pterostigma, 51
pui/la, 238, 277, 282, 291
piilchcUiiiii, 277
piih'hriDii, 298
ptiniilio, 266
pupa, 283
pupilla, 271
Pvroxvllic spirit, as relaxin'

328
Pvrrhosoina iiyniphula, 7, 8

22,252,265,284,288,295

232
teiidliim, 262

quadrifasciata, 1 19, 190, 203, 2IO
Quadrilateral, the, 53
quadriniaciilata, 107

R.

Raphidiidir, 28
Recent Dragonflies, 10
Relaxing Dragonflies, 328

agent, wood-naphtha as, 328
Removing Dragonflies from setting-
boards, care required for,

3-^7

Reproductive organs, 54

Reputed British species of Dragon-
flies, 308

Restoring colours undesiralile,

3--
Rhinarium, 48

Right and left of an insect, 55
nvselii, 88
Round-leaved Sundew, Dragonflies

caught by, 305
nibciluiii, 262, 266

34^

British Dragoiflies.

riibens, 271
rubicimda, 63
rubra, 82
rufescens, 2 1 o,
riificolUs, 6q
rufostigma, 87
rustica, 190

sangiiiiit'a, 87, 253

siibalpina, 137

"Sundew"' and Dragonflies, 8

Scorpion-flies, 28

scoticiini, 93

Search for nymphs, 314

Setting-boards for Dragonflies, 325

Setting Dragonflies, 325

Sex in nymphs, to distinguish, 39

Sheen on Dragonfly'^ wings, 24

Short sector, 53

Sialidcr, 28

iictila, 69

Sight of Dragonflies, 46

Simple eyes of Dragonflies, 46

Size :

^li. ccvriilca, 184

yE. cyanea, 197

u£. grandis, 204

^. isosceles, 2IO

yE.j'uncea, 19 1

^. mixta, 178

y4. itnperator, 164

^. mercuriale, 292

A. pulchelliim, 278

j9. pratense, 171

C. cpnea, 142

6'. annulatus, 158

f. splendeiis. 222

C virgo, 215

-£". cyathigerum, 299

^. naias, 244

6^. vulgatissimiis, 152

/. pumilio, 267

y. elegans, 272

Z. drprcssa, 1 00

Size — continued.

L. dry as, 229

Z,. d tibia, 64

L. fulva, 1 19

Z. quad rimaculata , 108

Z. sponsa. 233

(9. carulescens, 123

(9. ca/iccllatunt, 127

(9. curtisii, 149

Z". uyiiip/iula, 253

Z*. peniiipes, 239

Z*. teiu'llum, 262

.S". arclica, 138

.S". flaveoluni, 82

^. fonscolom bii, 7 7

.9. rnetallica, 132

»?. sajiguincum, 88

^. scoticuiii. 94

.S'. striolatuiii , 71
"Snake-doctors," 2 (foot-note)
Snake-flies, 28

Soinatochlora arctica, 137, 331
Jlavomaculata, 141, 312

■rnetallica, 130, 331
Sound made by Dragonfly's wing,

54

sparshalli, 312

spectrum, 233

Spiracles in Dragonflio, 54

splendens, 214, 220

splendeo, 214, 220

sponsa, 232

squatnata, 183

Stemmata, 46

Storage of preserved nymphs, 318

striolatuni, 69

Stufling abdomen, 322, 324

Sub-costa, 51

Sub-median nervure, 51

Sub-nodal sector, 53

Sulphuric ether and colour-pre-
servation, 323

Supra-triangle, 53

Sympetriim, 32, 69, 324

flaveoluni, 10, 81, 92, 9(), 313
(foot-note), 331

Index.

349

SvmpetriDii — contiiiitcd.

fonsLolombii, lo, 77

meriJionale, 7, 74, 309

sangiiiitetini, 86, 87

.scoticuiii, 7, 86, 92, 93. 314, 331

stn'olatitm, 10, II, 17, 18,60,
1)1,92,03,06, 30'), 314, 331

viil'j^iitiiDi, 10, (j9, 76
..S". strioliitnin and .S'. 7'ii/gatiiiii,

compared, 73
Sytnpyciia fitsca, 25
Synonymy :

^:£'. Ltrriilea, 183

^£. cyanea, 196

^:^. grand is, 203 .

^-£. isosceles, 209

yE. juncea, 189

^7:'. mixta, I I 7

^■J. iiiipcrator, 163

_-/. iiic/riirialc', 2<)0

-/. l>iuila, 282

A. piilchelliiut, 277

/?. pratense, I 70

f. «7/(V?, 140

t'. aiiiiiildtiis, 157

C. splendeiis, 220

C. evV-ifo, 213

^. cyathigei-iiin, 207

j5'. /laias, 244

6r'. 7'iilgatissiniiis, 1 5 I

/. e/egans, 271

/. pmiiilio, 266

Z. dtp/rssa, 100

Z. dry as, 228

Z. diibia, 63

Z. fulva, 119

Z^. quadriiiiaciilata. 107

Z,. sponsa, 232

(9. Cd;rulescens, 122

(9. cancellatitm, 126

<9. curtisii, 147

Z", nvuipliiila, 252

Z*. peiiiiipes, 238

/'. tcncllitm, 262

.y. arctica, 137

S. Jln'-eoiinii, 81

Synonomy — con tinned.
S. fonscolouibii, 77
.S. metallica, 130
.S\ sanguincuni. 87
.S'. scoticuiii, 03
.S. striolatuin, 69
^\ viilgatitm, 69

Tadi)oles as food fur nymplis, 316

Tarsi, 49

taurica, 221

ten ell um, 262

Teneral colouring, 66 (foot-note)

Termifidce, 28, 29

ternaria, 107

Tip of wing, 5 1

Transverse, as ap])lied to the parts

of an insect, 55
Triangle of wing, 51, 53

lower sector of, 53

upper sector of, 53
Trichoptera, 28
triedra, 93
tlihcrciilatuin, 271

U.

Ultra-nodal sector, 53
Upper sector of arculus, 53

triangle, 53
Use of Dragonfly's legs, 50
Use of hairs on legs, 49

varia, 197

Variation :

^Zi'. ctvnilca, 186
.i'. /jiUtvZ'j-, 211
^Z". juHcea, 192
^■J. iiiipcrator, 166
.J. lucrcitrialc, 21)4
.J. ///.'/A?, 286
.J. piilcliclliiiii, 280

150

British Dragonflies.

Variation— continued.

B. prate nse, 173

C. cenea, 144

C. aniiulatus, 159

C. ^ pi end ens, 223

C. T/'roo, 216

£. cvdthigeruni, 301

E. /tiiins, 246

G. vnli^atissiinus, 154

/. elegans, 273

/. pumilio, 268

L. depressa, 102

/,. diibia, bb

L. fiilva, 121

/,. quad rim (Till lata, 1 09

O. ccrrnleseens, 124

C. cancellatnm, 128

/". ttympJiula, 255

/•. pennipes, 241

P. tenelliini, 263

»S'. jiaveohini, 84

^. metnllica, 133

^. sangiiinewn, 89

J^. scoiieuni, 96

.S". striolafiini, 72
variegata, 69
vernalis, 171
veronensis, 94
Vertex, 47
zrjte, 214
victoria, 82
virens, t, 1 1

virgo, 213, 220, 221
viridis, 310, 332
imlgata, 87, 122
vulgatissini ns, 151
viilgatum, 69

W.

Water-fleas as food for nymphs,

316
White ants, 28
Wings, 51

Anisopterid, 53
Zygopterid, 53
Wood-naphtha as relaxing; agent,

328
Works referred to under contracted
title, 333

X.

xanthopteriim, 266
xanthostoma, 214, 221

Young nymphs, food of, 314

Z.

Zygopterides, 24, 30, 46, 49, 51, 54,

258, 308, 316
Zygopterid wing, 53

SUBSCRIBERS

TO THK

FIRST EDITION of " BRITISH DRAGONFLIES.

F. C. Adams, P'.L.S., F.E.S.,

Westminster, S.W.

H. J. Adams,

Enfield.
A. Adkin, F.E.S.,

Lewisham, S.E.

Mrs. Aldenon,

Worksop.

D. W. Alldav,

Hockley Heath.

E. A. Almorp:. F.E..S.,

Kinj;"s Lynn.
A. H. Anson,

Abingdon-on-Thames.

J. J. Armistead,

Dumfries.

Martin Armstrong,

Corbridge-on-Tyne.

AV. E. Bailv, F.E.S.,

Paul, Churchtown.

Rev. R. A. Ballen, B.A., F.L.S.,
F.G.S., Sec.

London.

J. Murray Bannerman.

Ross.
William Banting,

London, S.W.

F. H. Barclay, F.L.S. , F.G.S.,
F.E.S.,

Cromer.

C. G. Barrett, F.E.S.,

Peckham Rye, S.E.

G. E. Barron, ALB
Miss Baxter,

F. J. B. Beckford,

Ascot.
Colinsburgh.

Parkstone.

Duchess of Bedfori
A. Bevis,

Palnure.
Ryde, Isle of Wight.

W. W. Bickley,

Hull.

Birmingham Entomological
Society,

Birmingham.

E. B. Bishop,

Guildfonl.
A. Blackie, jun.,

Tunbridge Wells.

F. L. Blathwayt,

A\'eston-super-Mare.

!52

British Dragonjlies.

Lt.-Col. L. Blathwayt, F.L.S.,
F.E.S.,

Bath.

M. Blood. ALA., F.L.S.,

y,o\\num.

Rev. E. N. Bloomfield, M.A.,
F.E.S.,

Rev. J. R. BOWDEN,

Hastings.

Swindon.

E. A. Bowles, M.A., F.E.S.,

Waltham Cross.

AV. BoX-KlNGHAM,

Lonilon, X.W.

R. C. Bradley,

Sutton Coldheld.

C. A. Briggs, F.E.S. ,

Ljnmoiith.

Mrs. Brightwkn, P'.E.S.,

Gt. Stanmore.

H. Rowland Brown, M.A.,
F.E.S.,

Harrow AVeald.

Rowland Browne
R. K. BiRT,

Carmarthen.
London, E.C.

Rev. O. P. Cambridge, M.A.,
F.R.S.,

AVareham.
M. Campbell,

Machynlleth.
T. Carlyon,

Boscombe Park.

J. W. Carr, ALA., F.L.S.,
F.G.S.,

Nottingham.
J. W. Carter,

Bradford.
F. Carton,

London, W.

Clay Chai. loner,

Salisburv.

T. A. Chapman, ALD., F.E.S.,

Reiyate.
Aliss Chawmer,

Lyndhurst.

A. J. Chitty. ALA., F.E.S..

London, \V.

H. Shortridge Clark, F.E.S.,
Sulby, Isle of ALm.

J. A. Clark, ALP.S.G.B., L.D.S.,
F.E.S.,

Crouch End, N.
Airs. Clarke,

A\'ellin<,'ton.

E. ASSHETON ClEGG,

Peterstield.
T. G. CoE,

Bermondsey, S.E.

J. W. COGGtN,

Fdmlind Cook,
J. Cooper,
L. L. Cooper,
J. S. Corker,

Peckham.

Aheri'ele.

Scarboroiij/h.

Pilt Down.

Alanchester.

Corporation AIuselm,

Leicester.

T. A. Cotton, F.L.S.,

Bishopstoke.

E. R. Dale, F.I.S.Sc,

Salisbury.

Rev. T. W. Daltrv, ALA.,
F.L.S., F.E.S.,

Newcastle.

Ali^s Daibeny,

Abi rLTavenny.

J. L. Davies,

H. Davis, ALD.,
E. Daw,

W'll LL\.\I DA\VS,

lierlin.

Dartford.

(ii)dalming.

.Mansfield.

Subscribers.

"W. G. Dawson,

Plumstead Common.
D. Dewar,

Stanley, R.S.O.

Hon. R. E. Dillon,

Ahoscragh.

J. McDOUGALL,

Glasgow.

Woking.

Witney.
Edward M. Eaton,

Westminster, S.W.

H. J\I. Edelsten,
F. Edwards,

Alls. Drlry,

Rev. Arthur East,

S. Edwards,
F.Z.S.,

G. M. Ellison,
H. Eltringham,

Enfield.

London, W.
F.LS.., F.E..S.,

Blackheath, .S.E.
Bracebridse.

South Shields.

C. Englehart, C.E.,

Westminster, S.W.

F. Enock, F.L.S., F.E.S.,

Holloway, N.
J. Evans,

Llandinam, Mont.

Farmer and Son,

Kensington, .S.W.

H. S. Feason, A.m., Inst. C.E..
London, E.G.
Major FiCKLiN,

Norbiton.
Miss A. J. Flavell,

Kingston-on-Thames.

Rev. W. W. Flemyng, jNI.A.,

Portia w.
C. H. E. Fletcher,

Kingston-on-Thames.

W. H. B. Fletcher, M.A.,
F.E.S.,

Worthing.
W. Foggitt, J. p.,

Thirsk.
C. FoY,

Wokingham.

Neil Fullarton, M.B.,

Arran, N.B.

Rev. A. Fuller, M.A., F.E.S.,

.Sydenham Hill, S.E.

J. F. FURNIVAL,

Aluswell Hill, N.

Dr. R. Gestro,
Robert Goff,

Genoa.
Billingshurst.
E. E. Green, F.E.S.,

E. Greenwood,
Dr. F. Greenwood,

Maidstone.

Elstree.

Chesterfield.
C. J. Grist, M.A.,

Kingston-on-Thames.

C. R. Haines,
W. Hampson,

Uppingham.
Chester.

F. J. Hanbury, F.L.S., F.E.S.,
Upper Clapton, N.E.

Thos. W. Hand,

Leeds.
A. Harrison, F.C.S.,

P'orest Gate.
E. Hart,

Surbiton.
Wm. Hart,

West Didsbur}-.

Rev. J. H. Hocking, M.A.,
F.E.S.,

Ips\\'ich.
H. Hodge,

London, N.

2 A

354

British Dragonfli'es.

Hodges, Figgis, and Co.,

Dublin.

E. M. Holmes, F.L.S.,

Sevenoaks.
Thomas Hope,

Southampton.

F. Howrigan,

Oxford.
W. Hunt,

Manchester.
L. James,

Maidstone.

G. Jenner,

Oxford.

J. H. A. Jenner, F.E.S.,

Lewes.
W. H. Johnson, jun.,

Edinburgh.

Messrs. Jones "And Evans,

London, E.G.
B. Key,

Dulwich Common, S.E.

Miss Key,

Dulwich Common, S.E.

James J. F. X. King, F.E.S.,

Glasgow.
J. H. Knowles,

Wimbledon.

Rev. Chas. Kuygers,
E. Lamb,

Ware.
Salisbury.

O. H. Latter, M.A., F.E.S.,

Godalming.

H. Layer, M.R.C.S., F.L.S.,
F.S.H.,

Colchester.

F. C. Lemann, F.E.S.,

Plymouth.

L. Lethbridge, F.E.S.,

Wokingham.
L. Lewis,

Binsted.

E. W. LiFTON,

Gloucester.

Sir John Talbot Dillwyn
Llk\velyn, Bart., M.A.,
M.P., F.L.S., F.E.S.,

Swansea.

Henry "si. Lucas,

Oxford.
W. A. Luff,

Guernsey.
Denson J. Lyon,

Chester.
Miss MacAlister,

Bampton.
C. F. McAllum,

Newcastle-on-Tyne.

J. McDougall,
B. McGowan,
L. McKenna,
A. C. McMinn,
Hugh Main,

Glasgow.

Dumfries.

Twyford.
Kensal Green.
Old Charlton.

J. C. Mansel-Plfa^dell, F.L.S.,

M.M.S.,

Bland ford.
Dr. H. A. Martin,

Surbiton.
W. H. Martin,

Shanklin, Isle of Wight.

A. H. Martineau, F.E.S.,

Solihull.

P. B. Mason, M.R.C.S., F.L.S.,

F.Z.S.,

Burton-on-Trent.

Major N. Maunders, R.A.M.C,

M. W. May,
A. W. Mera,
T. Michell,

Colombo.

Ripley.

Forest Gate.

ALanor Park, E.

F. W. Mills, F.R.M.S.,

Thornleigh.
A. T. Mitchell.

Gunnersbury.

Subscribers.

355

H. Moore,
R. H. Moore,

C. H. JklORRIS,

J. MOTT,

p. MUMFORD,

Rotherhithe.

Sheffield.

Lewes.

Teddineton.

Winchmore Hill, N.

Mrs. Chaworth Musters,

Nottingham.

B. G. Nevinson, M.A., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S.,

Chelsea.

Charles Nicholson, F.E.S.,

Upper Clapton, E.

G. Nicholson, A.L.S.,

Kew Gardens.

W. E. Nicholson, F.E.S.,

Lewes.

G. W. Oldfield, M.A., F.L.S.,
F.Z.S., F.E.S.,

London, S.W.
G. C. Owen,

Newport, Mon.
J. R. Parker,

Lancaster.

Weymouth.

Warrington.

Tottenham.
Mrs. K. Perrins,

West Hampstead.
Rev. C. H. Phillips,

F. H. Peachell,
P. Pearse,
Mrs. Pedlev,

G. Phillips,

Chirk.

Oakham.
W. Phillips,

Kingston-on-Thames.

Rev. W. J. Leigh-Phillips,

Ta\'istock.

J. LiMwooD Pitts, M.J.L,
F.S.A.,

Guernsey.

John Pole,

jMatale.

G. T. PoRRiTT, F.L..S., F.E.S.,

Hudderstield.
R. N. Porter,

London, W.
E. J. Poyzee, F.Z.S.,

Beccles.
John Pratt,

.St. Albans.

E. E. B. Prest, M.A.,

Forest Hill, S.E.
J. Prest,

A. B. Priestly,

Teddington.

Penrhvdendraeth.

Carleton Rea

Worcester.

Mrs. Svlvanus Reynolds,

Northwich.

N. M. Richardson, B.A.,
F.E.S.,

Chickerall.

Rev. A. E. Richardson, M.A.,
Ipswich.
W. Richardson,

Blackhill.
Mrs. W. B. RiGBY,

!Middlewich.

Marquis of Ripon, K.G.,
D.C.L., F.R.S., &c.

A. M. Rodger,
A. Rogerson,
H. Roper,

Perth.

Cheltenham.

London, W.C.

A. F. Rosa, M.B., CM.,

Edinburgh.

G. B. Routledge, F.E.S.,

Carlisle.
A. O. Rowden,

Kingston Hill.

J. H. ROWNTREE,

Scarborough.
2 A 2

356

British Dragonflies.

W. H. R. Saunders,

London, S.W.
H. A. Sauze,

Sydenham Hill, S.E.

W. M. Scott,

Plumstead, S.E.

J. Whitworth Shaw,

Lingfield.

Dr. CoAVPER Sinclair,
J. M. Skarratt,
E. E. Smith,
William Smith,

Blackpool.
Cheltenham.
Sheffield.
Paisley, N.B.

Brighton.

Ruthven.

Notting Hill.

Exeter.

William J. Smith

J. SOMERVILLE,

W. Kemp Stanley,
John Stevens,

John Stone,

Ashburton.

G. A. Storey, L.D.S.,

Basingstoke.

Rev. J. E. Tarbat, M.A.,

Weybridge.

S. Taylor,

Manchester.

Edmonds Temple,

N. Shields.

James Thin,

Edinburgh.

C. Donald Thompson,

Seaton Carew.
R. W. Thorp,

Leigh-on-Sea.

Major J. A. Travers,

Weybridge.
W. T. Trollope,

Tunbridge Wells.

H. G. Troughton,

London, W.C.
T. P. Turner,

Surbiton.
J. W. TuTT, F.E.S.,

Westcombe HUl, S.E.

Rev. Canon USHERWOOD,

Parkstone.
J. Waddington,

Leeds.
P. Wadham,

Newport, Isle of Wight.

C. Wainwright,

Birmingham.

C. M.Wakefield, F.L.S.,F.E.S.,
Uxbridge.

Rev. Walker, D.D., F.L.S.,
F.E.S.,

' Cricklewood, N.W.

E. J. Walmsley,
W. H. Warner,
P. G. Waterfield,
C. J. Watkins,
William Watkins,

Gorton.
Fyfield.
Starcross.
Pains wick.
Eastbourne.

Watkins & Doncaster,

London, W.C.

Walter Weld,

Southport.
J. E. B. Wells,

Hoddesdon.

Rev. W. F. White, M.A., F.E.S.,
Stonehouse.

Walter J. Wood,
Rev. H. J. Wright,

Grimsby.

London.

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