574 ON SOME AUSTRALIAN ANISOPTERA, 



genus, yet it is remarkable in possessing the two characters that 

 are most prominently developed in Metathemis, viz., the four 

 bright basal wing-spots, and the basal spine of the superior ap- 

 pendages. It is clearly very closely allied to S. leachi Selys, 

 which was taken in company with it by 'S\y. Berthoud; but it 

 can be at once distinguished from this latter species by its 

 smaller size, by possessing only two dorsal thoracic spots instead 

 of four, by the more slender and less spotted abdomen, and by 

 the straighter appendages and the prominent basal spine. In 

 general appearance, it resembles Metathemis nigra Tillyard, 

 closely, but this latter species has short appendages and no dorsal 

 thoracic spots. It would be of great interest to find the female 

 of this species, to see to what stage of development the ovipositor 

 has reached. 



2. Metathemis brkvistyla subjuncta, n.subsp. 



Total length, ^(^'i\; abdomen ^(^ 'iO; forewing ^ 285, ^ 31; 

 hindwiny ^ 27"n, ^ 30"5 mm. 



It differs from the type as follows:— (1) Smaller, more compact 

 build. (2) Much shorter pterostigma, ^2, ^ 2*5 mm., covering 

 just two cellules. (3) Smaller spots on abdomen. (4) The two 

 spots forming the upper lateral band of the thorax are just joined, 

 instead of heiny quite separate (^P\a,te, Ixii., compare fig. \a type-form, 

 fig. 16, J/, subjuncta). This difference is very distinctive and quite 

 constant. (5) Wings of both sexes quite transparent, instead of 

 being tinged with brown as in the type-form, especially the 

 female. (6) Ground colour almost black, much darker than in 

 type-form. 



Hab. — Dorrigo and Ebor, N.S.W. December, 1911, and Jan- 

 uary, 1912. 



Types : (J$, Coll. Tillyard. 



This subspecies is very distinct from the type while on the 

 wing, as it flies more swiftly and keeps very close to the surface 

 of the water. The type-form has a slow soaring fliglit, and 

 prefers to fly high up round bushes and trees. The two forms 

 could be easily named while flying, but in spite of their very 

 distinctive difference of appearance, they cannot be claimed as 

 distinct species. 



