Platyoiciitis. 243 



Habits. 



Judging from the localities in which I have m}'self 

 taken this Dragonfly, it seems to like moving water 

 rather than ponds or stagnant ditches. On the wing 

 the blue males resemble A. puclhx, A. piilclicllniii, 

 A. mcrcurialc, or E. cycitJiigcnim, and the\' fly in a similar 

 manner, but they may generally be seen to be a 

 trifle larger than most specimens of the four species 

 just mentioned, and, when approached more closely, a 

 little lighter in tint. The females and whitish males 

 ma}', of course, be easiU' distinguished, as they look quite 

 pale upon the wing. Mr. C, A. Briggs has noticed 

 that P. pciiuipcs is sometimes found far from water. 



Distribution. 



But few localities have been recorded for this interesting 

 species, and all of them in the middle or south of 

 England. WorccstcrsJiirc : Worcester, common (G. T. 

 Porritt). ]Var-LK.ncksJiirc : Near Earlswood (W. H. Bath, 

 Nat. Gazcttc,\i. 51, 1891). OxfordsJiire : Brighthampton 

 (Mr. Stone's specimens in Oxford Museum). DevoiisJiire : 

 (Evans Brit. Lib., p. 17). Dorsetshire: (W. H. Bath, 

 " Handbook," p. 75). Haiipsliirc : New Eorest, common 

 (W. J. L.). Berkshire: Near Eynsham (W. J. L.). 

 Surrey : Esher Common, one, and Newark Abbey near 

 Ripley, common (W. J. L.) ; Ockham Common, sparingly, 

 Mickleham Downs, and near Cobham (C. A. Briggs). 

 Kent : (Evans Brit. Lib., p. 17). JMiddlesex : River Lea 

 at Park fG. T. Porritt). Essex: Epping (C. A. Briggs). 

 Norfolk: (W. H. Bath, "Handbook," p. 75). 



