March, 1916.] MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 91 



This is not the first time this species has been observed in large 

 swarms, but the mass movements of animals are always interesting. 

 It is particularly so in this case, since Mr. H. J. Shannon (Harper's 

 Magazine, September, 191 5) has suggested and has amassed consid- 

 erable evidence to show that this, as well as some other strong-flying 

 dragonflies migrate southward before cold weather sets in and that 

 there is a northward trend in the spring. 



Unfortunately the writer was absent from home when this flight 

 occurred and the following notes are based upon observations made 

 by my wife. The specimens she captured proved to be all Anax 

 Junius (Drury), the sexes being of equal numbers. 



Mrs. Osburn was standing by the window looking out into the 

 back yard — the house is on the college grounds clear at the city limits 

 and with open country beyond — when, as she looked, the air seemed 

 suddenly to become filled with large dragonflies all coming along the 

 hillside from the north. Realizing that something unusual was tak- 

 ing place, she seized an insect net and cyanide bottle and ran out 

 among them. Six specimens were taken about as fast as they could 

 be bottled. As they all seemed to be of one species she took no more 

 of them, but stood watching them for about fifteen minutes. 



They flew back and forth across the open lot and fields as far as 

 she could see them, apparently feeding as they went, while the swarm 

 as a whole moved leisurely southward in a body as above stated. The 

 breadth of the swarm could not be judged, nor could the number be 

 estimated, but there seemed to be thousands of them in sight at a 

 time. 



One thing which occasioned Mrs. Osburn much surprise was the 

 fact that, contrary to the usual behavior of the larger dragonflies, 

 these seemed not at all shy, but flew so close to her that they would 

 almost brush against her before turning out of their course. Those 

 taken were captured without the least difficulty and any number might 

 have been taken with ease. There was no variation in their behavior 

 during the time they were watched. While there is no explanation 

 for this loss of fear in migrating animals, it has been observed fre- 

 quently, especially among those moving in large numbers. 



After Mrs. Osburn was compelled to return to the house she kept 

 watch occasionally from the window. The body of the swarm had 

 entirely passed by the end of an hour and after that time, three 



