I02 British Dragonfiics. 



till the insect has been on the wing for some time, 

 possibly several da}'S. 



Variation. 



L. dcpressa is not a variable species. The female, 

 however, occasionally develops the blue coloration on 

 the abdomen, causing" her at first sight to resemble the 

 male in general appearance ; but a second glance reveals 

 the fact that the shape of the body and the form of the 

 anal appendages are those of the female. No doubt 

 the blue bloom onl}' appears on very old specimens, 

 and is therefore rather a sign of age than of \'ariation. I 

 have myself taken but one blue female, and that was 

 caught in the New Forest on August 2, a late date for 

 this insect. De Selys mentions instances of its occurrence, 

 but says they are very rare.^ 



Oviposition. 



While poised upon the wing the female dips the end 

 of her abdomen and drops her eggs, apparent!}' quite at 

 random, into the water. 



Egg- 

 Pear-shaped, with a little pedicel at the smaller end ; 

 size, about 75mm. long, and ■5mm. broad ; colour white, 

 with a pale yellowish tinge ; contents, granular. [Ex- 

 tracted from the dead body of a female which contained 

 a large number.] (Fig. 4, No. 3.) 



Nymph. 



Body sepia-tinted ; very hairy ; broad and bulk\- ; 

 somewhat flattened ; length, including appendages, about 



* " Revue des Odonates," p. (). 



