NEUROPTERA. 353 
MECISTOGASTER (p. 55). 
Mecistogaster ornatus (p. 55). 
To the localities given, add:—Mexico, Sayupa in Durango (Batty, A. M. N. H.: 
1 @), Arroyo del Muerte (Beebe *) in Jalisco, very near the Colima line and about 
ten miles from the Volcan de Colima; GuatemaLa, San Felipe in Retalhuleu (Maxon 
& Hay, U.S. N. M.: 13,1 2), Escuintla (Mr. & Mrs. Deam, coll. Wilmsn.: 2 2); 
Honpuras, Puerto Cortez (W. H. Vogel, Milwaukee Publ. Mus.: 1 9); Costa Rica, 
Bebedero (Underwood: 1 3,1 2), Surubres [1 ¢ ], Rio Machuca [1 ¢, 2 2 #] (Biolley, 
colls. A. N.S., Wilmsn.). 
Mr. C. W. Beebe, Curator of Ornithology of the New York Zoological Park, has 
given an account of this insect in life which is worth repeating here, as it occurs in a 
work * not likely to be consulted by entomologists. With his permission we quote 
as follows :—‘* While walking up the dark ravine I saw, to my amazement, four flecks 
of sunshine dancing slowly ahead of me, although, at that moment, not a breath of air 
stirred the branches. I could make nothing of it, until I enclosed the flickering spots 
in my net. Only then did I see that they were four yellow and white markings, one 
at the tip of each wing of a large dragonfly. In the dim light of the ravine, the rest 
of the wings, transparent and colourless, and the long attenuated body, were absolutely 
invisible, leaving to the eye only four small golden spots, which would ordinarily be 
lost among the myriad dots of sunlight. For an insect of its size (44 inches in spread 
of wings, and with a body 4 inches in length) the protection was the most perfect 
I had ever seen. To photograph the dragonfly I had to pose it in the brightest 
sunlight, thus giving no idea of the wonderful illusion which a deep shadow 
produced—when the wings vanished, the body became a slender twig, and only a 
single spot of yellow, where the wings overlapped, told of its position; a hint so 
intangible that it must be safe, even in this land of keen-eyed, insect-eating birds, 
mammals and reptiles.” Mr. Beebe’s photograph is reproduced in his book (p. 240) 
and renders the identification of the dragonfly certain. | | 
Of the examples taken at San Felipe, Mr. Maxon wrote me :—‘“ The two collected 
were the only ones seen [Feb. 23, 1905]. They lacked the usual dragonfly ability 
of dodging and getting away quickly, and their flight was otherwise very peculiar. 
They were, moreover, so slight that it was difficult to see them, in the partial shade, 
well enough to sweep, or to follow them in their movements, which were at all times 
extremely deliberate. Their flight was very slow and weak, and often they would 
remain nearly stationary for ten or fifteen seconds, very much as when a dragonfly 
hovers before ovipositing.” On one of the Escuintla females Mr. Williamson sent 
this note:—‘“ Collected by C. C. Deam in a dry ravine. Flight hke that of a 
Morpho.” 
* ¢Two Bird-Lovers in Mexico’ (Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, & Co., 1905), pp. 239-241. 
