NO. 2017. NOTES ON THE ODONATA— KENNEDY. 113 



six or eight individuals were seen on the wing at times and one or 

 two pairs in copulation, though occasionally none would be in sight. 

 Being active on the wing, it seemed that the open swamp was merely 

 the favorite spot of a wider range, though I did not succeed in 

 checking this conclusion by finding Somatochloras flying elsewhere. 

 Of the two sexes the males were the more active and the higher 

 fliers. They usually flew about 2 feet above the sedges, but occa- 

 sionally they would take high flights among the black pines growing 

 about the swamp. The males were never at rest except when copu- 

 lating, but the females, while usually flying low, frequently rested 

 on the sedges and other plants. In mating the males captured the 

 females while these rested. After capture followed a long nuptial 

 flight m copulation, which usually lasted several minutes, following 

 which the pair, while yet m copulation, settled on some tree or shrub, 

 where they remained for a long time. One pair was timed 25 minutes 

 for this resting period. The eggs were laid in masses on the surface 

 of the water in the more open pools, whereupon the egg masses 

 would immediately disintegrate and fall to the bottom. The females 

 were unaccompanied by the males while ovipositing. A careful search 

 for both larvae and exuvije was made, but neither were found. 



The following list gives the specimens collected. The dates of col- 

 lection were July 10 and 11, 1911. 



AMPmAGRION SAUCIUM (Burmeister). 



One female of this species was taken in "Cabm Swamp," and two 

 males were seen. 



iESHNA MULTICOLOR (Hagen). 



One male of this species was captured on the north side of the 

 lake near the spillway. Perhaps a dozen individuals were seen along 

 shore, and three were seen in "Cabin Swamp." 



SOMATOCHLORA SEMICIRCULARIS (Selys). 



Nine pairs, 32 single males, and 6 single females of this species 

 were taken in "Cabin Swamp." This number probably comprised 

 a majority of the individuals living there, as they were much less 

 numerous at the end of the second day's collectmg than m the 

 beginning. None were seen elsewhere. Because the females were . 

 more easily caught than the males, I believe that the foregoing num- 

 bers show the natural proportion of the sexes, especiaUy as I found 

 no frogs or toads in the swamp, and the water was not deep enough 

 for fish; neither did I observe any birds capturing dragonflies. 



As SomatocJdora semicircuJaris is a species not common in collec- 

 tions, especially in such large series, it seemed opportune to make 

 careful descriptions and to publish notes and drawings based on the 

 variations among the individuals. 

 95278°— Proc.N.M. vol.46— 13 8 



