1 66 British Dragon flics. 



Female Imagro. 



Closely resembling the male, but (xbdonicn green and 

 only slightly constricted at third segment. Ptcrostiguia 

 5mm. to 5-5mm. long. Eyes green. Anal appendages 

 rather short, 5mm. in length, brown, leaf-like ; eleventh 

 segment yellowish. Ovipositor red, reaching to end of 

 ninth segment ; sheaths present. 



Variation. 



This species does not appear to be subject to much 

 \ariation. In females that have been long on the wing 

 those organs become suffused with dull brown, and very 

 old females are sometimes taken that have a blue 

 abdomen, like that of the male. Charpentier figures 

 the female with this exceptional colouring in " Libellulinas 

 KuropjEa;," Tab. 45, Fig. i. 



Oviposition. 



Mr. McLachlan says that " for this [purpose they 

 thrust the abdomen into the water to the extent of 

 about half an inch." ^ De Selys says : " On voit celle-ci 

 raser la surface de I'eau en deposant ses oeufs sur les 

 plantes aquatiques."t No doubt the eggs are laid 

 within the substance of the water-plants. 



Eg-g". 



Colour white, with a pale yellowish tinge ; contents 

 granulated. Shape long, cylindrical, with rounded ends ; 

 a very tiny knob or stalk at one end. Length 175mm. ; 

 width •3mm. [Extracted from the dead bod)- of a female 



* E. M. M., iX()(), p. Oi. j"]<.e\uc des Odonalcs," p. in. 



