I lO British Dragonfiies. 



producing the striking form named b\- Newman, 

 prccjiuhila. Usually this form of variation is accom- 

 panied by a saffron suffusion also, in which case the 

 colouring of the wings is very rich and beautiful. It is 

 seldom that specimens are taken in the South of 

 England that are altogether free from indications of the 

 last two forms of variation (Plate V). (4) It is said 

 that occasionally the nodal spots are absent, but such 

 an instance has not come under the author's notice. 

 Such a variety might be confused with L. dcprcssa (male) 

 ■or L. fiilva (male) ; but the former possesses a dark 

 patch at the base of the fore-wings, and the latter two 

 dark lines, while L. qiiadriiuaciilata has neither. 



Oviposition. 



Poised upon the wing, the female drops her eggs 

 .apparent!}' cpiite aimlessly, into the water. 



Colour white, with a pale }'cllowish tinge ; thc}^ 

 become darker — }'ellowish-brown — after being in water 

 for a short time. Contents, granulated. Shape, nearly 

 elliptical, but slightly oval, with a little pedicel at one 

 end, usually, if not always, the smaller end. Size, about 

 |mm. in length, perhaps a little under ; rather less than 

 •imm. in width. The specimens described were taken 

 from the body of a dead female, which contained a 

 large number. The)^ closely resemble those of L. deprcssa, 

 but are apparently a little smaller and less pear-shaped. 



Nymph. 



Body sepia-tinted, hair}-, broad, and sturdy ; somewhat 

 arched dorsally ; length, including appendages, 26mm. , 



