12 British Dragtniflics. 



of the male, and in this way the eggs are fertiHsed. 

 No doubt fresh batches of eggs need to be separately 

 fertilised, necessitating the continued attendance of the 

 male upon the female ; but perhaps the proceeding may 

 also be looked upon as an act of fidelity, akin to that 

 of the earwig for her eggs, and, according to De Geer, 



Fig. I. — Lestes sponsa, Male and Female connected 



PER COLLU.M. 



for her young — a trait not often exhibited thus low in 

 the Animal Kingdom. 



But the males of all species are not so attentive as 

 those of kS". striolatnut, nor are the eggs in all cases 

 so carelessly laid. Instances have been noted — e.g., hy 

 Messrs. B. J. Clarke, J. Jenner Weir, and G. W. Dunn — 

 that when members of the genus Agrioii are ovipositing. 



