1903.] 251 



AN EXCURSION TO THE NORFOLK BROADS PRINCIPALLY IN 

 QUEST OF ODONATA. 



BY G. T. PORniTT. F. L. S. 



For several years it had been strons^ly on my mind to make an 

 expedition to the Norfolk Broads, with a view to turninfr up, if possi- 

 ble, yEsclinn isosceles {rufescens), and a note by Mr. TT. M. Edelsten 

 (Entom., February, 1903, |). 50) statinp; that he was ])ractically certain 

 he had seen a specimen of the species there last July, setlled the 

 matter. In company with Mr T. A. Lofthouse, of Middlesbrough, I 

 arrived at Stalham on the evening of June 17th, and we remained 

 there until July 2nd, the Eev. Cyril D. Ash, of Skipwith, joining us 

 from June 22nd to June 27th. 



My two friends went solely as Eiepidopterists, but they assisted 

 me splendidly in my hunts after the Dragon-flies ; indeed, had it not 

 been for Mr. Loftbouse's management of the boat, whilst I used the 

 net, it is not unlikely that yEsc/mrt' isosceles would not have been taken 

 at all. We were evidently at first too early for this species, and as 

 day after day passed with no sign of either it or Libellula fulva, I 

 began to lose hope of seeing either of them. On June 20th, however, 

 Mr. Ivofthouse netted two fine adult male L. fulva, and a number of 

 others were seen ; so next morning we set out in great hopes of 

 securing a series of this species. Nor were we disappointed, for it 

 proved to be quite common. Whilst we were working for it I noticed 

 a large JEscJina hawking on the river along the side of a reed bed, 

 which I at once felt sure could be no other than isosceles. Needless 

 to say that from that time L. fulvo was largely neglected and our 

 energies concentrated on the JEschna., of which several others were 

 soon seen to be flying about ; at length one was netted, and proved 

 to be the prize we anticipated. Hard work during the remainder of 

 the morning only produced one more, but our captures fortunately 

 included both sexes. Next day during six or seven hours on the 

 water, entirely devoted to stalking JB?. isosceles, I netted four more, 

 one of which unfortunately escaped. We never saw the species away 

 from the large reed beds, nor on ground which could be reached on 

 foot ; and as an JEschna is not the easiest of creatui*es to catch even 

 on terra Jirma, it will be realized that as all were stalked with, and 

 netted from, a small boat, their capture proved as exciting a piece of 

 entomological work as I have ever experienced. Probably during the 

 two days we saw over thirty specimens, and I had little doubt it 

 would become still more plentiful after we left next day. 



