96 t^P'""' 



HEMIANAX EPHIPPIOER, Bukm., TAKEN AT DEVONPOBT IN 

 FEBRUARY. 



BY ROBERT McLACHLAN, F.R.S., &c. 



A sliorl time ago I received from Itr. J. H. Keys, of Plymouth, a cutting 

 from the " Western Morning News " of March 2nd, consisting of a letter from 

 Mr. Win. Heardcr, of 195, Union Street, Plymouth, to the effect that Mr. Colvvill, 

 the driver of a local tramcar, had caught, a few days (ireviously, at Devonport, a fine 

 dragon-dy. Naturally I was curious, and somewhat incredulous, so 1 asked Mr. 

 Keys to obtain more information if possible. A few days later the dragon-fly 

 arrived, and to my astonishment proved to be a fine female of Hemianax cphippiger, 

 Burm., a species almost as large as our familiar Anax Imperator. 



H. cpliip})l(jcr is essentially a native of Africa, extending also far into Asia. 

 Several times migratory swarms of it have occurred on the European shores of the 

 Mediterranean, and it occasionally occurs singly in various south European localities, 

 but there is no evidence that it breeds in Europe, though it may do so for a time. 

 Further north a specimen was taken near Ziirich by Dr. Ris, and another in 

 Brussels on June 4th, 1874. These stragglers have been observed in summer 

 or autumn, and 1 should have felt but little surprise had a specimen been found on 

 our south coast in hot dry weather in summer. But for one to be found on February 

 24th (that was the exact date) is quite another matter, and we must look for 

 another explanation. This is perhaps supplied by an observation published by Mr. 

 G. F. Mathew, R.N., in Ent. Mo. Mag., xviii, p. 258 (April, 1882) ; Mr. Mathew 

 there states that this species was in great profusion at the mouth of the River Ouro 

 oil the West Coast of Africa (hit. 23" 40' N.) at the end of December, and that 

 many of the insects flew off to the ship and settled on the rigging. It is quite 

 possible therefore that this Devonport example may have come on board a passing 

 vessel off the African coast, and then have fallen into a lethargic condition, waking 

 up during the high temperature that prevailed in the English Channel towards the 

 end of February.* I am greatly indebted to Mr. Keys for taking a gi'eat deal of 

 trouble over this matter. Mr. II carder, into whose shop the insect was taken ivliile 

 still alive, is a fishing-tackle manufacturer, with some knowledge of Natural History. 

 Mr. Colwill, the captor, says he caught the insect with his cap, and that it was being 

 chased by boys. Mr. Keys has quite satisfied himself as to the genuineness of the 

 matter ; but it would be obviously incorrect to announce "A new British Dragon-fly " 

 on the strength of this exanij)le. It is now in my possession. 



Lewisham, London : 



March 17th, 1903. 



SILPITA SUB ROTUND ATA, Steph., a DISTINCT SPECIES. 

 BY THE UBV. W. F. JOUNSON, F.E.S. 



I see that Dr. J. H. Bailey (Eut. Mo. Mag., vol. xiii, 2ud series, 

 p. 238) has been taking S. subrufundata in the Isle of Man, but has not 

 met with *S^. atrata there. It is noteworthy that the same is the case 



* It has been suggested that there may have been some connection of the appearance of this 

 insect with the dust-laden rain which fell over a wide area in the south of England a few days 

 previously, — R. McL. 



