1911 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 55 



nus horealis, Aube, which was very abundant in a neighbouring stream, was not to 

 be seen in the pooh 



On one of my last visits to the pool, I drew from the bottom of it a broken 

 limb of a tree that had lain there, water-logged, for the whole season. Attached 

 to the under surface of this piece of wood, I found a strip of some kind of spawn. 

 It was three-quarters of an inch long and about three-sixteenths of an inch thick, 

 and so firm that I was able to loosen it from the wood without damaging it. It 

 was translucent, and I counted in it sixty minute eggs. I placed it in water, and 

 shifted it to fresh water frequently. The jelly-like matter surrounding the eggs, 

 whether designed to nourish or protect them, gradually dissolved, and the eggs be- 

 came free. At this stage the embryo, curled round within the egg, could be easily 

 seen with the naked eye. The eggs began to hatch in the beginning of the present 

 month (ISTovember). This is a description of the larvse in their first stage: — 



Length, two millimetres. Translucent and colourless throughout — except 

 that the tips of the mandibles were ochreous and the eyes were small brown dots. 

 The head was large in proportion to the body. The antennge were straight and 

 tapering. The thoracic segments were slender, and angulated where the limbs were 

 attached. The femora — especially of the hindmost pair of legs — ^^vere remarkably 

 large. The segments of the somewhat enlarged and flask-shaped abdomen could be 

 easily counted. At the end of the body were two respiratory tubes. 



Were these the larvae of Dytiscus fasciventris. Say? 



On August 3rd an American Bittern {Botaurus lengtiginosus) flew up as I 

 approached the pool. I think the bird was merely a passing visitor, for, in my 

 frequent walks around the spot, I did not see it again.* 



One day in September, while occupying my favourite seat by the pool, I be- 

 came aware of a dozen heads protruding from the water, and a dozen pairs of eyes 

 fixed intently upon me. The position struck me as ludicrous, and I laughed aloud. 

 Immediately a dozen pairs of heels turned up with a splash, and my interviewers 

 disappeared. In less than five minutes they showed themselves again, and resumed 

 their watchful gaze, as much as to say, "What will you do next?" They were 

 half-grown Leopard Frogs. 



I made the acquaintance of these creatures early in May, when they were dirty- 

 orown tadpoles, about the size of our hazel nuts, and possessing long tails. They 

 developed hind-legs in the beginning of July, and, before the end of that month, 

 had absorbed their tails, and become possessed of fore-legs. 



About the time of their metamorphosis, the full-grown frogs disappeared from 

 the pool: they were gone probably in search of land adventures; for their kind 

 were plentiful in the low-lying meadows near. 



Not the least interesting of the frequenters of the pool were the Dragon-flies. 



The first of these to attract my attention was Tetragoneura canis, MacLachlan. 

 I had not met with it previously, and am indebted to Dr. E. M. Walker for its 

 identification. The following is a brief description of it: — 



Tetragoneura canis, MacLachlan: Length of body 1% inches; expanse of 

 wings, 3 3-8 inches. Colour brown. Face and thorax hairy, with a white gloss. 

 On either side of each segment of the abdomen there is a clay-yellow patch. Ab- 

 domen somewhat spatulate, widest in the middle, tapering towards the end. Vena- 

 tion of wings pale brownish red. Stigmata dark brown. At the base of the second- 

 aries are some small brown blotches. 



•On the 10th of June, 1904, I found a Bittern's nest containing three eggs, at the 

 "Gomin," near Quebec. It was merely a depression in the herbage. The eggs were 

 1 7-8 inches long and 1 7-16 inches broad, of a pure oval, and fawn-coloured. 



