Breeding the Nymph. 315 



canals, ditches, and so on, where the various imaginal 

 Dragonflies have in previous seasons been noticed to 

 resort. 



In the search the implement employed is a small 

 dredging net about 6in. in diameter, with a stiff iron 

 ring and a tough, but porous, bag (cheese-cloth is a very- 

 good material to use). This may be carried in the 

 pocket or satchel, and fastened to a walking-stick at the 

 scene of operations. In addition, several tin boxes will 

 be required in which to carry home the spoil, for the 

 n}'mphs will live for hours, if not days, packed rather 

 lightly in damp moss, and certainly travel better thus 

 confined than when subjected to continual jolting in a 

 bottle of water.^ 



When, after a dip, the heterogeneous contents of the 

 net are turned out on the bank, the nymphs — especially 

 the larger ones — often remain c^uite still for a time, as 

 if feigning death, and as in colour they usually resemble 

 the weeds and mud, or bits of stick and other rubbish, 

 they may easil)' be passed over ; but they soon 

 begin to crawl. In some localities certain of the 

 Agrionine nymphs may be taken in swarms, but other 

 species, that with them or in other localities as imagines 

 are equally common, can only be obtained with the 

 greatest difficult)', and after lengthened periods of 

 dredging.t The search goes on in patience till a 

 sufficient supply of nymphs has been obtained. On 

 reaching home they must be turned out into a basin 



* For passage through the post nymphs should be packed in the same way, 

 and they will take no harm from a long journey. 



f Gomphus vulgatissiinus appears to burrow in the mud, and perhaps other 

 flat-bodied species may do the same. 



