156 British Dragonflics. 



Illustrated Catalogue of the Museum of Comparative 

 Zoology at Harvard College, U.S.A., 1872.)"^ 



Date. 



This species is an early one, appearing in May and 

 being over by about the end of June. 



Habits. 



On the wing th.is species has a superficial resemblance 

 to Cordulcvastcr anmtlatKS, except in size. Its flight is 

 rather slow ; in fact, very much slower than in some 

 species, such as Ortlictrmn acnilcsccns, of about the 

 same wing-expanse. Being not at all " war}-," it is 

 easih' caught. It chiefly hovers about bushes and trees 

 or flies along the margins of streams, and rareh' takes 

 long or high flights. In this respect it resembles more 

 the Zygopterid Dragonflies than the Anisopterids to 

 which it belongs. (W. J. Ashdown, in litt.) 



Distribution. 



But few localities have been recorded for this 

 Dragonfly, which, from its conspicuous colouring, should 

 be easil\- noticed. All the records, too, as far as the 

 British Isles are concerned, are from England, though 

 De Selys (" Revue des Odonates," p. '^i) sa}-s that it 

 has been observed in Ireland. They are: Essex: Near 

 Epping (H. Doubleday). Berkshire : The Thames, near 

 Reading (A. H. Hamm) ; near Bagiey Wood (M. Burr). 

 Oxfordsliire : Brighthampton (Mr. Stone's specimens in 

 the Oxford Museum). Worcestershire : Near Worcester 



* Some empty nymph-skins, found in the New Forest while the above 

 account of the nymph was passin<j; througli tlic press, confirm the i,'cneral 

 accuracy of Cabot's description. 



