372 STUDIES IN THE LIFE-HISTORIES OF AUSTRALIAN ODONATA, 



During September and October, 1908, I again visited the- 

 Woronora River, mainly with the idea of discovering something 

 about Dijyhlehia. This year I failed to find it in its original 

 locality, and was compelled to search out new haunts for it. On 

 September 26th, I abandoned the main river, and tried the 

 Heathcote Creek, a tributary, more accessible by rail, and not so 

 rough for exploration. Some distance up this creek, the water 

 comes down over a series of rocky ledges, forming small cascades 

 and rapids. I was now using waders, and worked up the stream, 

 dredging with the net under banks and along sandy bottoms, or 

 in fact an}^ where where larvae might be found. While working 

 under the roots of some "coral-fern" overhanging the creek, I 

 obtained a most peculiar cast-skin of an Odonate nymph. It had 

 been soaked in the water until it was soft and flabby, the only 

 portions remaining at all intact being the head, and an enormous 

 flat labium. My first impression was that it was the semifinal 

 cast of some rare ^Eschnid, possibly Telephlehia godeffroyi Selys. 

 However, the labium was of a peculiar type; the second joint of 

 the antennae was very long, and the anal opening of the abdomeu 

 very large and ragged, suggesting the possibility of some peculiar 

 appendages. I had hopes that I was at last on the track of 

 Diphlebia, and redoubled my efforts. 



I again visited the same locality on October 3rd, but after 

 dredging carefully all day, I met with no success. I now began 

 to suspect that the larva might be an active creature inhabiting, 

 the bare submerged rocks, and that no amount of dredging would 

 ever capture it. 



The next Saturday, October 10th, I changed my tactics, and 

 worked up the stream without using the net, peering carefully 

 into the bright clear water, examining minutely the sides of the 

 rocks, and the shady nooks under overgrown banks. Still no- 

 success ! I sat down by the side of the stream to think it over, 

 and was gazing abstractedly at a small clear runnel of water 

 between two ledges of rock, when I suddenly came on the solution 

 of the problem. There, on the broad green blades of a large 

 water-reed, at a depth of a foot below the surface of the running; 



