4 2 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



more, three were males taken on the 6th and 16th of June, 

 while one was a female, taken on the 13th. One of the 

 males taken on the 16th had captured a small example of 

 the moth, Crambus pratellus, Linn. 



Most interesting and welcome, however, amongst the 

 Dragon-flies were a number of specimens oiAgrion hastulatum, 

 Charp., taken at Aviemore from the 9th to the 16th of June. 

 The collection consisted of nine males (one fragmentary) and 

 two females (one teneral and the other fragmentary). At 

 first sight there is a close resemblance between A. hastulatum 

 and E. cyathigerum^ although they belong to two different 

 genera. Normal males are best distinguished by the black 

 markings on the dorsal surface of the second abdominal 

 segment, as will be seen on reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Not 

 seldom, as in some of the present examples, the lateral spots 

 in A. hastulatnm become very small, or are even obliterated ; 

 while the distal spot in E. cyathigerum may become much 

 like that of normal A. hastulatum. It, however, then often 

 breaks away from the circlet, which I fancy seldom happens 

 with A. hastulatum. The distal spot in neighbouring 

 segments in A. hastulatum is longer and of a more graceful 

 shape than in E. cyathigerum. Should modifications in the 

 black markings of the second segment lead to confusion, a 

 glance at the appendages of the distal abdominal segment 

 will settle the matter (see Figs. 3 and 4). Females, which 

 are much less frequently taken, should be identified by 

 association with the males. It may be noted, however, that 

 in females of E. cyathigerum there is a small distal apical 

 ventral spine on the eighth segment. 



All the Neuroptera were taken at Aviemore. They 

 were represented by Sialis lutaria, Linn., two males 25th 

 and 26th of May, and one female 29th of May ; Hemerobius 

 nervosus, Fab., two, 27th of May and 9th of June ; Hemerobius 

 stigma, Steph., three on the 31st of May, and one on the 

 1 1 th of June. 



Of the TRICHOPTERA there was but one species, Neuronia 

 ruficrus, Scop., which was represented by two specimens from 

 Aviemore, taken on the 25th of May and 1st of June. This 

 is a fine dark insect having somewhat the appearance of one 

 of the larger species of Perla (Plecoptera). 



