1 62 British Dragonflies. 



tenth segment, pyramidal, sharp ; superior somewhat 

 shorter ; lateral ones very short and sharp. At the 

 end of eighth \entral segment a bifid triangular vulva 

 nearl}- equal in length to ninth segment." (L. Cabot, 

 "The Immature State of the Odonata." Illustrated 

 Catalogue of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at 

 Harvard College, U.S.A., 1872). 



Date. 



This insect appears on the wing in June, and con- 

 tinues well into August, if not later. In the New Forest 

 it is plentiful, and in good condition in the early half 

 of the latter month. 



Habits. 



Owing to its custom of hawking backwards and for- 

 wards along the streams close to the surface of the 

 water, this Dragonfly is usually an easy capture, and 

 the more so because each male seems to appropriate to 

 itself a fixed and restricted range, which, if not thoroughly 

 disturbed, it will frequent for a long time. Especially 

 is this habit noticeable over the streams in the New^ 

 Forest, and Mr. Morton calls attention to much the 

 same habits along the burn-sides and in the hollows on 

 the moors in Perthshire. But it is a powerful insect, 

 and on (occasion its evolutions become rapid and its 

 flight lofty. 



Distribution. 



This fine Dragonfly is well represented in Great 

 Britain. As regards the Sister Isle, there are no definite 

 records, but De Selys (" Revue des Odonatcs," p. lOyX 

 sa^•s: " Sc trouve aussi en Irlandc sur les lacs du nord"; 



