
DRAGON-FLIES. 
By F. F. Larpuaw, B.A., Demonstrator in Zoology of the Owens College, 
Manchester. 
ONLY six species are represented in the collection. One of these appears to be new. 
The rest are all well-known Ceylon and Indian species, or have a still wider distribution. 
Sub-Fam. Libellulinae. 
1, ZYXOMMA PETIOLATUM Ramb. 
Zyxomma petiolatum Kirby, Cat. Odonata, p. 35. 
This widely distributed Oriental species is represented in the collection by three specimens 
(2 #, 1 3) from Hulule. 
2. PANTALA FLAVESCENS (Fabr.). 
Pantala flavescens Kirby, Cat. Odonata, p. 1. 
Two males, one from Hulule. and one from Mahlos. This is the most widely distributed 
and one of the commonest of existing dragon-flies. 
3. RHYOTHEMIS VARIEGATA (Joh.). 
Rhyothemis variegata Kirby, Cat. Odonata, p. 5. 
This is a common Ceylon and Indian species, and belongs to a genus whose members 
frequent especially the neighbourhood of the sea. R. variegata is of particular interest on 
account of the remarkable differences in coloration of the wings of males and females, the 
pattern being totally different in the two sexes. 
Mr Gardiner obtained 4 ¢ and 1 ¢ from Minikoi and a single pair from MHulule. 
This small series however is of considerable interest, the pair from Hulule differing strikingly 
from the specimens from Minikoi. These latter agree closely in size and colour with 
specimens in the British Museum from Ceylon; the pair from Hulule are considerably smaller, 
and the male in particular shows differences in the wing markings. 
