146 British Dragotiflies. 



the rest. Male projection somewhat rectangular ; margin 

 sHghtl}- hollowed behind ; surface somewhat rounded at 

 each hind corner. Habitcxt at bottom of ponds, canals, &c. 

 but apparently not in the mud. [From Surrey sj^ecimens.] 



Date. 



Cordiilia icnea is one of the spring Dragonflies, and 

 its earliest recorded date seems to be May 10, the 

 localit}' being Surre)-. It is probably at its best in 

 average seasons in earl}- June, and does not extend 

 far into Jul}-. In 1891, however, Mr. Briggs saw one 

 at Bookham, in Surrey, on September 13, under 

 circumstances that scarcely allowed of his being 

 mistaken as to the species. Perhaps this particular 

 insect emerged at an abnormally late date, an occur- 

 rence which does not appear to be uncommon in some 

 species of Dragonflies. 



Habits. 



When C. cEiiea frequents a pond, it often hovers and 

 circles about not f^ir above the surface of the water,, 

 some few yards from the bank ; but along a certain 

 canal in Surrey, where on one occasion large numbers 

 were on the wing together, the}- flew back\\ards and 

 forwards with great constancy, within a foot or so of the 

 bank not far from the water. Though not particularly- 

 timid in.sects, they are not easily caught. They seem 

 to be very adept at avoiding the net, although it appears 

 to be quite an easy matter to intercept their course. 



Distribution. 



Not many records have been made of the occurrence 

 of this insect, and most of those that exist are of 



