1884.] 273 



DESCEIPTION OF A VAEIETY OF PHILOPOTAMUS MONT ANUS, 

 DONOVAN, FROM SCOTLAND. 



BT KENNETH J. MOKTON. 



In July last, at a small stream at the south of Lanarkshire, I took 

 the curious form of Phllopotamus which, at Mr. McLachlan's sugges- 

 tion, is here described. It is a beautiful and distinct-looking insect ; 

 but, notwithstanding a peculiar coloration and an apparently constant 

 neural character, I am inclined to look upon it as being only a remark- 

 able local variety or race of P. monta^ius, Donovan. 



P. MONTANUS, Donovan, var. chutsopterus. 



Anterior- wings with the 4th apical fork not reachiyig the anastomosis ; the mem- 

 brane of these wings is nearly hyaline (neuration darker and rather distinct) clothed 

 with bright golden-yellow pubescence, which is transversely and somewhat faintly 

 reticulated with pale greyish-fuscous ; there are also a few larger fuscous spots, one 

 at the arculus being especially conspicuous : fringes golden, excepting at the termin- 

 ation of the nervures, where there are fine fuscous points. Posterior-wings with 

 membrane rather more obscure, clothed more or less with golden pubescence in their 

 apical third ; at the apex are reticulated markings more distinct than in the typical 

 form (in the latter, too, the golden pubescence does not encroach on the disc) ; 

 fringes as in anterior-wings. Other characters and anal structure apparently agreeing 

 with the typical form. 



Three (J at a little stream running down the side of Tinto, a hill 

 in South Lanarkshire. 



In form of the wings, this insect is most like P. monfanus, but in 

 general appearance it more resembles P. instilaj^is, WcJj.,ivom Guern- 

 sey. However, in the latter species, for a type of which I am indebted 

 to Mr. McLachlan, the anterior-wings appear to be of a longer oval 

 shape, the fork No. 4 is sessile, and the pubescence dull pale yellow ; 

 the posterior-wings want the golden pubescence on the apical portion, 

 on which there are only a series of marginal festoons of this colour. 



Carluke, N. B. : 27th March, 1884. 



Dragon-flies near Worcester. — The species of these insects taken by me in this 

 locality are so few, and so common-place, that I have hitherto refrained from publish- 

 ing a list of them ; but Mr. McLachlan's welcome annotated list of the British species 

 has caused me to think of one or two matters anent the subject that I wish to treat 

 of, and I incorporate my local list (of 13 species) therewith. 



Sympetridn vulgafttm. — I am pleased to see that the name striolatum is now 

 sunk, as the highly coloured specimens have long seemed to me only very mature 

 exponents of vulgatum. 



