The Odonata or Bragonflies of South Africa. 389 



The single genera and species of this group hear the characters of 

 archaic relics : many primitive features in venation on one side ; 

 highly specialised structures in some other respects, as in the armature 

 of legs and in genital organs of both sexes ; black and yellow colour 

 system, which is at the same time an archaic feature and an adap- 

 tation to life in wooded land. Notiothemis is nearest to NeoJyfhemis 

 (from Madagascar) and Micromacroiiiia (from continental Africa) in 

 venation, but near Tetrathemis (from tropical Asia, Madagascar and 

 Africa) and CalophJehia (from Madagascar) in genital structure of 

 male. 



Head small ; eyes contiguous on a short line. Fi-ons rounded, with 

 no distinct anterior ridge. Vertex broadly rounded, very little 

 emarginate. 



Posterior lobe of prothorax moderate, rounded, with a small median 

 notch, ciliate. Thorax comparatively small, legs long and robust. 

 Third femora of male with very numerous— about 40 — denticles, 

 triangular in proximal half, gradually passing to quadrangular outline 

 in distal half, a long spine at distal end. Second femora with similar 

 triangular denticles in proximal half, gradually longer spines in distal 

 half. Spines of tibiae numerous, fine. Tarsal claws with robust 

 tooth near the middle. 



Abdomen little widened in basal segment, thin, almost cylindrical 

 posteriorly. Male genitalia small. (Female unknown.) 



Wings comparatively long and narrow, rather close venation t in 

 front wing in same level with / in hind wing. Sectors of arculus with 

 long common stalk. Arculus between second and third antecubital. 

 Cm, in front wing at anal angle of /. separate in hind wing. 9-11 Anq, 

 the last one complete. 



t in front wing at level of arculus or very little distal. 1 Cuq in 

 front wing, 2 Cuq in hind wing. No Bqs t in front wing free, almost 

 equilateral, distal side but little longer than proximal and costal one. 

 t in hind wing free, ht crossed in front wing, crossed or free in hind 

 wing, ti in front wing free, regular, or its costal side (the second 

 cubito-anal cross vein) not exactly meeting the proximal angle of t. 

 Rs and J/o very slightly convex ; Espl not very distinct ; one row 

 of cells Rs-R^pl. Discoidal field of front wing beginning with one 

 row, two rows at level of bridge, considerably widened to wing's edge ; 

 no Mspl. In discoidal field of hind wing about four cells running 

 through between M^ and Ch,. Distinctly developed anal loop in hind 

 wing, with two rows of about five cells each ; external angle of loop 

 very obtuse, mostly no interpolated cells. Membrauule very small. 

 Pterostigma moderate. 

 25 



