BRIEFER ARTICLES. 



GOMPHUS CORNUTUS TOUGH (ODONATA) IN MIL- 

 WAUKEE COUNTY. 



By Richard A. Muttkowski. 



On June 29, 1910, while collecting crayfish and fish with Mr. 

 A. Katze-Miller, of the Museum, I noticed an extremely agile 

 species of Gomphus flying around the pond where we were ploy- 

 ing our nets. The species, even in flight, appeared different from 

 any of the local Gomphines known to me. It was extremely wary 

 and only after half an hour's chase did I succeed in obtaining a 

 specimen, a male. A few minutes later I caught another male; 

 for further captures 1 could not spare the time. Upon examina- 

 tion of the appendages I saw immediately that the species was 

 different from any I had seen before. Later comparison proved 

 it to be Gomphus cornutus Tough. 



Hake's pond. Township Franklin, where the specimens were 

 collected, is a shallow, muddy affair, covering half an acre, sup- 

 plied with a few springs, which keep the water fairly cool. Ex- 

 cept for a few reeds and rushes and several scraggly bushes, no 

 vegetation exists along the shore. Toward the east, about 100 

 feet distant, is a large woods, which, however, the Gomphines 

 showed no inclination to visit. Neither did they fly in such spots, 

 where the shorewater was clear. 



The flight of the species is peculiar and characterized by 

 remarkable agility, as noted above. Eight specimens were seen, 

 but only one female, which was lost in pursuit. The species 

 apparently found great pleasure in playing with Plathemis lydia, 

 which was out in large numbers. In fact, so much did their flight 

 resemble that of P. lydia, that at a distance it appeared the same 

 as the other. Only on nearer approach did its yellow front and 

 occiput show it to be different. Their method of settling down 

 on dead reeds or twigs and pieces of wood— anything of brownish 

 hue, at a distance of from eight to ten feet from the shore — 

 just sufficient to place them beyond reach of the net, was aggra- 

 vating. Seemingly imperturbable against all net-strokes, against 



no 



