5O ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March, 



Unless there are two closely-allied species of Composia in Cuba 

 the above description applies well to the present form, except 

 that the underside is not described. 



NOTE ON THE HABIT OF COMPOSIA FiDELissiMA H.-S. Ex- 

 amples of this species were taken by me on the east shore of 

 Lake Worth, Florida, as already noted in these pages, and they 

 exhibited a means of defence which I have not observed in any 

 other moth. When captured, so that it was unable to fly, the 

 insect, by expanding and contracting its abdomen, forced a col- 

 umn of yellowish froth out of the centre of its thorax above. 

 The froth was of about the consistency of soap-suds, and the 

 little bubbles, of which it was composed, " went out" after a time 

 leaving a yellow stain. All that were taken, including individuals 

 of both sexes, behaved in this manner, with the exception of two, 

 in one of which the froth exuded from a point in the underside 

 of the abdomen, and in the other from the end of a broken vein 

 of one hind wing. It would appear as if this froth was formed 

 from the blood of the insect, which was forced out by the pres- 

 sure of contracting the abdomen from the point of least resist- 

 ance, usually the centre of the thorax, where there is probably a 

 small aperture. HARRISON G. DYAR. 



o 



A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ODONATA OF MAINE. 



Specimens in the Maine State College Collection, or taken near 

 Orono, Penobscot County, Me., in 1890. 



BY F. L. HARVEY. 



Tribe I. AGRIONINA. 



Subfamily i. CALOPTERYGINA. 



i. Calopteryx metadata Beauvois. Common over running 

 water. Chemo Stream, Bradley, July. Several pairs taken 

 mating. The female usually, when followed by the male, comes 

 to rest on the alder bushes. The male flies over her and seizes 

 her by the neck; she then turns her abdomen under to the second 

 segment of the male. 



2. Calopteryx cequabilis Say. Scarce; only one pair taken 

 July. Flying over water with the above. 



