366 MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS SYNTHEMIS, 



and in having the frontal spots close together; whereas with the 

 latter it agrees only in having the lateral thoracic band entire. 

 However, in its general shape and appearance it is much the 

 most distinct species of the four comprising the genus. 



3. Metathemis brevistyla Selys. (Plate v., fig. 10). 



Synthemis brevistyla Selys, loc. cit. 1871. 



(J. Total length 43, abdomen 32, hind wing 31 mm. 



Wings slightly tinged all over with pale brownish; neura- 

 tion closer tlian in the two preceding species; pterostigma 3 mm., 

 black; memhranule 2 mm., greyish. Head: eyes deep green in 

 living insect; vertex black; front black with two large pale yellow 

 spots, separated by a rather narrow black band in median cleft, 

 and extending on to sides, where their colour is more greyish; 

 clypeus black, a central yellow mark on anteclypeus; lahrum 

 black; labium pale straw-colour. Thorax very dai'k brown, 

 dorsal ridge yellow, a deep steely-black band on each side of it; 

 sides steely-black; lateral band completely broken, forming two 

 elongate-oval irregular spots, bright yellow; low down, a small 

 round yellow spot in front, a larger yellow area behind; notum 

 dark brown; scutella yellow; four distinct bright yellow spots at 

 wing-bases; legs black, undei'side of profemora pale brownish. 

 Abdomen : 1-2 and 7-10 somewhat enlarged, very dark brown 

 shading to black, marked with bright yellow as follows — 1, a dull 

 dorsal mark; 2, two slanting spots and auricles; 3, basal half 

 yellow enclosing an elongate-oval black mark with a fine apical 

 stem; 4-6, a pair of small basal spots, a pair of small central 

 spots; these spots largest in 4, decreasing rapidly to 6; 7, with 

 small central spots only; 8, a pair of large spots occupying the 

 basal half or more of the segment; 9, two small triangular basal 

 spots wide apart; 10 black. Appendages: superior 1 "5 mm , 

 black, somewhat forcipate, a small spine on outer margin near 

 bases; inferior not quite as long, broad, nearly black, truncate 

 (Plate vii., figs.9a and b). 



5. Very similar to male, but somewhat larger; hindwing 32mm., 

 bases of wings touched with blackish-brown; pterostigma 3 3 mm., 



