Cordulegaster. 159 



nioiibranc rather long, narrow, white. ^'-''ii-^ black. 

 Abdomen swollen at first and second segments, then con- 

 tracted, much swollen at seventh and eighth, and then 

 contracted again ; colour black, with yellow markings ; 

 first segment hair\-, with }'ellow line on each side ; 

 second with a \ellow line along fore- and hind-margin, 

 and with yellow auricles ; third to eighth with a central 

 pair of dorsal spots almost meeting, and a streak along 

 the hind-margin, not distinct in the eighth ; ninth with 

 two basal }'ellow spots ; tentii black. Anal appendages 

 black ; upper conical divergent ; lower one short, 

 rectangular, just a little indented behind. 



Female Imago. 



Closely resembling the male in most respects. Anal 

 angle of hind-wings rounded, and no auricles on second 

 segment of abdomen. Abdomen but little constricted at 

 middle segments ; eighth has fine )^ellow lines on the 

 broad suture ; ninth produced to a basal point dorsall}-, 

 and the sides partl\- wrap[)ing round the tenth, which 

 is small, with a dorsal longitudinal groove ; sides of 

 ninth and tenth }-ellow. Anal appendages short, black, 

 conical. Eleventh segment with yellow hairs. Ovipositor 

 7"5mm. long, divided along centre, pointed, l\"ing close 

 along abdomen, extending considerably be}-ond the 

 eleventh segment ; no sheaths. 



Variation. 



Sometimes the wings are dark, especially in the 

 females, but this is perhaps more a sign of age than of 

 variation. In the south of England, according to 

 De Selys, the yellow colouring tends to become more 

 developed. 



